Over 25,000 saplings to be planted on Lowari

CHITRAL, April 11: A campaign was on Thursday launched to plant over 25,000 saplings at Ziarat and the Lowari top area. The tree-plantation drive was initiated by the Sarhad Rural Support Program (SRSP) under the youth development activities of European Union Peace project. Commandant Chitral Scouts Col Nasir Khan Jadoon was chief guest on the occasion while students from different schools of Drosh and Chitral were also present. Talking to this scribe, Col Jadoon said, “We have taken the students on board to motivate them and create awareness among them about the importance of plantation and harms of deforestation.” He said Lowari top area had very rich forest in the past but unfortunately it was decreasing day by day. He said some 12,000 saplings were planted on the first day of the campaign and the target of 25,000 saplings would be achieved soon.  Responding to a question, he said they would request the district administration for imposing section 144 on grazing of cattle in the area at least for three months to save these plants from excavation. Tariq Ahmad, the district program manager of SRSP, said they had donated some 25,000 plants to Chitral Scouts for the tree plantation campaign. He said they had also started different activities regarding the plantation drive in Chitral and wanted to increase the forest cover in the valley. A student of class 9th said they participated in the campaign on a volunteer basis so as to convey a message to the people and other students of the country to plant at least a single sapling every year to check deforestation. Another student said Chitral was facing soil erosion, natural calamities like flood etc due to deforestation and if every citizen participated in such campaigns we will protect our land from these calamities. At last, the students also presented a culture show with Chitrali music, folk dance and songs. A large number of students, military officers, Chitral Scouts personnel and other people participated in the event.– Gul Hamaad Farooqi]]>