Punjab Forest Dept’s plantation drive sees schoolchildren, volunteers plant peepal, jamun, neem at Karol Forest
Environmental philanthropist Ghulam Rasool donated thousands of plants to Lahore to decrease the smog and air pollution. PHOTO: AUTHOR
A citizen from Pakpattan has set a remarkable example of environmental commitment by donating 10,000 saplings to Lahore, aiming to fight smog and promote urban greenery.
The plantation drive, organised under the Punjab Forest Department’s Community Engagement Forestry Programme, took place at Karol Forest on 14 acres of land, where local schoolchildren, volunteers, and forest officials joined hands to plant native species including peepal, jamun, and neem. The initiative follows the Friends of Forest Conference held on August 31 in Lahore, marking a practical step toward expanding community participation in forest restoration.
Speaking at the event, environmental philanthropist Ghulam Rasool said his roots in Pakpattan inspired this gesture. “I grew up in soil where trees were part of every household. This donation is my tribute to that land and its people,” he said. “I’ve made plantation my life’s mission — I want to plant 500 million trees in my lifetime. So far, I’ve planted five million, and these 10,000 in Lahore are part of that journey.”
He added, “Lahore is the heart of Pakistan, and it hurts to see it choked by smog. This is my gift of 10,000 trees to the people of Lahore. I pray that when my time comes, there’s a sapling in my hand and the name of God on my lips.”
Director General of Forests Punjab, Azfar Zia, praised the initiative, calling it “a true reflection of community spirit.” He noted that Punjab Forest Department directly manages only 3.1 per cent of the province’s land area. “Even if we fully green that area, it won’t be enough. Real change will come when the remaining 97 per cent owned by farmers and the private sector is brought under tree cover,” he said.
Zia assured that the department will now be responsible for the maintenance of the newly planted trees. “If any farmer wishes to plant trees, we will provide saplings. And if someone already has saplings, we can offer land,” he added.
The plantation also saw enthusiastic participation from schoolchildren who said the city’s air has become difficult to breathe. “We are planting these trees to secure our today and tomorrow,” one student said. “Every child should be required to plant and care for at least two trees a year. That’s how we can make our cities greener and fight smog.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Kanwal Liaqat, who joined the plantation, remarked that tree-planting is not just about greenery but about “rebuilding the lost connection between humans and nature.”
By sunset, the once-barren 14-acre patch of Karol Forest had turned green, echoing with applause and the scent of wet soil a reminder that real change begins when citizens and institutions grow together.
