LAHORE : Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that the provincial government will plant 50 crore trees across the province in next five year, while 90 lakh trees will be planted during the current year and it is the responsibility of every Pakistani to make the tree plantation campaign successful.
The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating the tree plantation campaign of the monsoon after planting a sapling at China Park near Sagian Interchange here on Saturday. He offered prayers to make this campaign successful.
Usman Buzdar said that the 10 Billion Trees Tsunami Program of Prime Minister Imran Khan will be the game changer. Currently there are 21 trees per acre in Punjab and we have set the target to increase this percentage to 28 trees per acre by 2025.
The forest area in Pakistan is 5.1 % while it is 3.27 % in Punjab. Only planting trees should not be our target but looking after trees is also our responsibility.
He said the Forest Department will give 70% subsidy on the tree plantation at 3950 acre area under the Social Forestry Project. He appealed the people to plant trees to make the country green.
The Chief Minister also inspected the stall set up by the Forest Department. He was brief on the tree plantation campaign.
Later talking to media, he said the PTI government has resolved the problems of journalists on priority basis and the annual grant of the Lahore Press Club has also been increased while no government has given attention to resolve the problems of the Lahore Press Club in the past.
To a question about the no trust motion against the Chairman Senate, he said this process has been completed comfortably and the Senators have cast vote as per their wish and conscience.
If the opposition does not want the secret ballot then it should go for open vote. To a question about the forward bloc in the PML-N, the chief minister said all are with us and the situation in Punjab is very better and we do not need to do such work.
Punjab has done more legislation than any other province.
Responding to a question about the transfer of DGAnti-Corruption Department, Usman Buzdar said transfers and postings is the administrative right of a government and the government can do transfer and posting as per regularization whenever it finds it appropriate.
He said several steps have been taken to provide relief to the people. He said that he distributed Insaf Sehat Cards in Chiniot and Faisalabad the other day and the scope of the Sehat Insaf Cards will be increased to the whole of the province.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed that government employees should also get Sehat Insaf Cards and the government employees who have no financial position to get treatment will be provided the facility to get medical treatment through Sehat Insaf Card and in this way the government employees will get relief.
To yet another question about the torture of journalists by the workers of PML-N, the Chief Ministers said legal action will be taken against those who are behind this act.
To another question, he said the price of roti will not be increased and it will be made available at the previous rates.
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Parliamentary Secretary Forests Makhdoom Raza, lawmakers Musarat Cheema, Nadeem Bara, Talat Naqvi, Umal Nabeen, Secretary Forests, Commissioner Lahore Division, Secretary Information, Vice Chairman PHA Yasir Gilani and other officers were also present on the occasion.(INP)
