Prof Dr. Muhammad T. Afzal, Rector, COMSATS University Islamabad planted a sapling to kick off the 2020 Plantation Drive at the Kachnar Park in Islamabad today.
Also present at the occasion were senior officials of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad and the Islamabad Capital Development Authority and COMSATS University Islamabad. Mayor Islamabad, who was the chief guest at the occasion, appreciated the important role of students in making plantation campaigns a success and said that MCI had partnered with several organizations to hold plantation drives across Islamabad. Sheikh Ansar Aziz said that with similar efforts we will be able to restore the status of Islamabad as one of the greenest capitals of the world.
CUI has earlier held two plantation drives as part of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of achieving Clean and Green Pakistan in 2018 and 2019 planting over 10,000 trees at designated sites across Islamabad. The drive also had the participation of government officials, research experts, staff and professors of various departments of COMSATS University.
While addressing the gathering Prof. Afzal called for a social and behavioral change as envisioned by the government’s ‘Clean Green Pakistan’ initiative. He said that plantation efforts in Islamabad should be a model for the entire country. Talking about the carbon foot print, he said that it was a duty of every responsible citizen to plant atleast 6 trees for every 25 kilometer of daily commute on car.
Dr. Muhammad Tabassum Afzal said that to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 13 and 15 which pertain to Climate Change Action and Life on Land, partnership among various institutions and involvement of responsible citizens is mandated.
Trees contribute towards reducing the harmful effects of climate change, provide support to wildlife and eco-systems while reduce urban flooding and cleanse the atmospheric air. He encouraged faculty members to take up the task of studying the medicinal and industrial use of plant and tree constituents and help in raising awareness among future generations for adopting a sustainable lifestyle.
COMSATS University Islamabad has been regularly holding plantation drives across its seven campuses in Islamabad, Attock, Wah, Vehari, Sahiwal, Lahore and Abbottabad to raise awareness.