DERA GHAZI KHAN: The non-provision of funds has put the 10 billion tree project in danger in the Multan forest zone, including four districts of Dera Ghazi Khan division, sources told Dawn on Friday.

Up to four million trees were planted in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts like other districts of the Multan zone under the plantation project. The share of thefour districts of Dera Ghazi Khan division was 8.168 milliontrees.

The Rajanpur district forest officer told Dawn that 4,012 million trees were planted in trans-Indus districts and now they had been facing problems due to the non-provision of funds since July 2020.

Chief Forest Conservator Rana Mahmood Ahmed told Dawn the department had not received funds in the third and fourth quarter and for that reason, they were unable to pay wages to laborers.

He maintained thatgenerally whole Punjab, especially the Multan zone, was being badly affected due to the shortage of funds to look after the tree project properly.—Tariq Saeed Birmani