Multan commissioner orders mandatory tree plantation for land allottees

MULTAN: Commissioner Multan Division Amir Kareem Khan has launched a plantation compliance drive under which beneficiaries of government land-allotment schemes will be required to plant and properly maintain trees on their allotted land.

The decision was announced during a review meeting on plantation targets across the division. Deputy Commissioners briefed the commissioner on the progress of plantation activities and the survival rate of saplings planted under various government schemes.

Under the Namberdari Grant programme, authorities have set a target of 56,980 saplings. So far, 37,598 trees have been planted, representing 66 percent progress.

Meanwhile, beneficiaries of other government land-allotment schemes have been given a combined target of planting 421,150 saplings. Of these, 126,315 have been planted to date.

Commissioner Amir Kareem Khan directed officials to complete both plantation targets by October 31. He stressed that simply planting saplings would not be enough, as their survival and continued maintenance would also be closely monitored.

He ordered officials to enter details of each plantation in revenue records against the relevant Khasra and Khata numbers. Patwaris will submit monthly reports on the condition and survival of the saplings during the first three months. Inspections will then be conducted every two months to monitor their growth.

The commissioner also instructed officials to ensure that dead or damaged saplings are replaced without delay so that plantation targets are maintained.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of the One Student, One Plant initiative. Educational institutions were directed to maintain plantation logbooks and keep records of the survival of trees planted by students.

Khan also proposed certificates and recognition for students who perform exceptionally well in planting and caring for trees.

The commissioner said plantation should not be treated as a one-time campaign. He emphasised that the real objective was to protect and nurture saplings until they developed into healthy and mature trees.