Lahore: The Punjab government has announced a large-scale environmental initiative under the “Chief Minister Plant for Pakistan” campaign, which aims to plant 42 million trees on 50,869 acres of land across the province.
The announcement was made by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in a statement issued on Saturday, where she emphasized that the recently unveiled provincial budget reflects the government’s eco-friendly vision. The campaign is part of the broader Punjab Green Programme, which aims to combat climate change and promote sustainable development.
According to the chief minister, an additional 1.375 million trees are being planted on 3,790 acres of forest wasteland under the CM Agroforestry Initiative. The initiative also includes the plantation of five million trees in rows along 10,223 miles of canal banks throughout Punjab.
She said the scope of the Green Pakistan Programme has been significantly expanded, with a target to plant 466.463 million trees on 251,000 acres of land. “Large-scale tree plantation and environmental projects are being launched under the Punjab Green Programme,” she noted.
The government has also announced several projects to promote eco-tourism and improve forest management in the province. These include upgrading facilities at Lal Suhanra National Park and the Salt Range, where wireless networks, GPS devices, digital and CCTV cameras will be installed to enhance tourist experience and monitor environmental impact.
To improve fire safety and disaster preparedness in Murree and Kahuta, a Shielding Summits Programme has been launched. It will include the recruitment of 600 fire watchers, the deployment of fire vehicles, and the construction of watch towers.
The chief minister also announced that forest tracks are being restored and springwater tanks are being constructed as part of a broader plan for ecological restoration.
For real-time monitoring and protection of forest lands, the Punjab government has introduced a GIS-based surveillance system supported by drone and satellite technology. A digital communication cell has been established, and the Monitoring and Evaluation Wing of the Forest Department is being equipped with modern tools and additional staff.
Efforts are also underway to digitize forest records and tree inventories. Digital tree enumeration and GIS-based surveys have been initiated to improve forest management, while modern machinery has been procured to speed up plantation and forest operations.
To further strengthen on-ground oversight, the province is setting up 104 Forest Command and Control Centres to ensure round-the-clock surveillance and protection of green areas. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif reaffirmed her administration’s commitment to long-term environmental sustainability and highlighted that these steps are aimed at building resilience against climate-related challenges.
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