Lahore: The Punjab government has announced plans to establish a 112-kilometre-long tree belt around the provincial capital under the ‘Lungs of Lahore’ project, aimed at curbing smog and reducing environmental pollution.
According to a senior official of the Punjab Housing Department, more than 4.8 million saplings will be planted across 1,711 acres as part of the initiative. The project — also referred to as the Ring Afforestation Project — will be completed in three phases.
In the first phase, a 59-kilometre-long forest stretch will be developed on 1,210 acres within a year, benefiting nearly 20 million residents of the city. The second and third phases will add 31 kilometres and 22 kilometres of forest cover respectively, completing the green ring around Lahore.
The tree species selected for plantation include regional varieties such as Jamun, Kachnar, and Guava, along with exhibition and shade trees like Pulkan, Arjun, Gul Nishtar, Sukh Chain, and Jatropha. Officials said the project will not only improve air quality but also help control urban sprawl and restore ecological balance.
Meanwhile, Lahore continues to rank among the world’s most polluted cities, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing 400 on Thursday — a level considered “very unhealthy.” Data from IQAir showed that the city’s PM2.5 concentration was over 36 times higher than the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) annual guideline.
The most affected localities included Syed Maratib Ali Road (649), Revenue Employees Cooperative Housing Society (354), University of Lahore (344), SOS Village Bedian Road (336), and Allama Iqbal Town (326).
Officials expressed hope that once completed, the ‘Lungs of Lahore’ project will play a crucial role in mitigating the city’s recurring smog crisis and improving the overall quality of life for its residents.
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