LAHORE: The Punjab government will plant over 40 million trees in the province.

“The project will cover 48,368 acres across the province, with a target of planting 42.5 million trees,” Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said here on Tuesday.

“In the fiscal year 2024-25, 8,496 acres will be planted with 7.361 million trees, for which Rs1.8 billion has been allocated. Of this, Rs1.085 billion has already been utilized, accounting for 60 per cent of the estimated budget,” she said.

During the Spring 2025 plantation campaign, 6,637 acres would be covered with 5.966 million trees. The campaign is being carried out at more than 300 locations across Punjab, including Lahore, Kasur, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Murree, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, and Muzaffargarh.

Various native and fruit-bearing trees are being planted, including Moringa, Chir Pine, Neem, Kikar, Sheesham, Sirus, Bakain, Simal, and Arjun. The plantations will not only increase forest cover but also green canal banks, roadsides, the Potohar plateau, Murree, and sandy area.

Ms Aurangzeb further highlighted that the project was progressing rapidly, with 2.73 million trees already planted over 4,000 acres. The Chief Minister Plant for Pakistan initiative will incur a total cost of Rs8 billion, significantly contributing to addressing environmental pollution in the province.”