KP Govt Decides To Extends BTAP To Tribal Districts

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2019 ) :KP Govt has decided to extend Billion Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP) to tribal districts to plant additional one billion saplings of different species under Plant for Pakistan initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Shafqat Munir, Conservator Forest Department told APP on Sunday that BTAP are being extended to tribal districts to achieve target of additional one billion trees during next five years under PM''s Plant for Pakistan campaign under which 10 billions saplings would be planted in the country.

He said Provincial Secretary for Environment, Forests and Wildlife Syed Nazar Hussain Shah and other senior officers of KP Forest Department held important meetings with officials of other federating units including Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir and offered them full technical support for Plant of Pakistan on basis of our rich experiences gained under BTAP's model.

He said a'Changa Manga' like forest at Gari Chandan in Peshawar in order to combat environmental pollution and provide recreation facilities to the inhabitants of the walled City.

Ghari Chandan is the first man made forest raised by Forest Department during last five years with main focus to offset growing effects of climate change and global warming besides providing enhanced recreational facilities to tourists and residents of Peshawar.

Gari Chandan where sands piles, rugged mountains, barren lands and deserts were seen everywhere five years ago, was now covered by millions of trees planted under BTAP, a mega project of PTI Govt under which over one billion and 18 crore, saplings were planted.

He said over 2.5 million saplings were planted at Ghari Chandan and Azakhel Mathani forests during last five years, turning these barren and rugged areas into lush green.

"Gari Chandan forest is the 'Changa Manga' of Peshawar where over 2500 hectares land were brought under forestry cover during first phase of BTAP," he said, adding it was the first man made forest where survival rate of plants are over 90 percent.

"In early days, we had faced the challenge of watering to millions of young plantations especially during hot summer. This challenge was successfully overcome by hiring water tankers besides excessively use of Forests Department's own tankers for watering purposes, resultantly young plantations developed roots and now we have a complete forest there." Shafat Munir said similar forests were also raised in DI Khan where millions of plants were raised on Chashma Road and other areas, saying plantation on both sides of 80kilometers Chasma road were made.

These massive activities have not only generated jobs opportunities for thousands of labourers besides alleviate poverty and made positive effects on temperature.

The Conservator said millions of plants were raised on 50000 hectares in 12 districts came in southern forest circles besides plantations on 20000 hectares water logged areas. As result of massive plantations, he said overall covered forests area of KP had crossed the mandatory 25 percent international standard, which is a great achievement for KP.

"We have chalked out an inclusive plan for second phase of BTAP under which one billions trees would be planted during next five years in KP under 'Plant for Pakistan' initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan." Awareness environment clubs were setup in major schools for education of students about importance of forests and free plants would bedistributed among TMAs and district administrations for success ofClean and Green Pakistan, he concluded.