Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab said on Tuesday practical measures were being taken to make Karachi a greener, environmentally friendly and pollution-free city.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of an urban forest project at the EBM Causeway, he said the project would play a significant role in improving the environment, reducing air pollution and providing citizens with a healthier atmosphere.
Under the project, around 10,000 trees have already been planted along the EBM Causeway on Shahrah-e-Bhutto, while the overall target is to plant 100,000 saplings in phases.
Wahab said neem, gulmohar and other indigenous tree species suitable for Karachi’s climate were being planted under the campaign. He added that the project would help reduce the city’s temperature and pollution levels while improving oxygen levels.
The mayor said the Urban forest initiative would also provide a natural habitat for birds and wildlife and enhance the city’s beauty. Members of the City Council, elected representatives and officials of relevant departments attended the ceremony.
Wahab said climate change had become a major challenge for Pakistan, while rising temperatures in Karachi reflected the effects of global warming. He added that responsible leadership always made decisions with future generations in mind and that improving the urban environment was the need of the hour.
He said institutions across the country were working on infrastructure development, while the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) was carrying out large-scale plantation drives in open spaces so the saplings could grow into large trees in the coming years and improve the environment for citizens.
He added that the establishment of green zones along Shahrah-e-Bhutto was part of the same vision and that the Parks Department had started work on the project two months ago.
The mayor directed the Parks Department to establish similar green zones in all seven districts of Karachi. He said neem trees had already been planted in Korangi and more plantation projects would continue across the city.
Speaking on development projects, he said PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had promised completion of Shahrah-e-Bhutto and that the road project would be inaugurated this month.
Commenting on the proposed 28th Amendment, Wahab said the draft had not yet been shared with them. He added that the federal information and law ministers had already clarified that no such proposal was under consideration.
He said Karachi’s issues could not be resolved by a single institution alone and stressed the need for cooperation among all stakeholders. He added that if any irregularity or wrongdoing surfaced at any level, strict action would be taken.
