MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Environmental activist Raja Shakeel Khan has launched a large-scale monsoon plantation drive in collaboration with the Forest Department and “Organic Growers Parsacha”.
Under this campaign, eco-friendly plants are being provided to the public free of cost, while a team of volunteers is busy planting trees in different areas.
Raja Shakeel Khan and his team of volunteers have set a target of planting 5,000 trees in the current monsoon season. The inaugural ceremony of this campaign was held at the “Organic Growers Farm”, in which Divisional Forest Officer Syed Mazhar Naqvi, District Information Officer Sohail Khan, local people and volunteers participated.
Addressing the ceremony, Divisional Forest Officer Syed Mazhar Naqvi said that the slogan of the Forest Department “Har Bashar Do Shajar” is not just a slogan but a thought, through which the public is encouraged to plant trees to ensure the protection of the environment. He said that in view of the dangerous effects of climate change in the region, tree plantation has become inevitable.
On this occasion, District Information Officer Sohail Khan said that the establishment of “Organic Growers” was implemented to promote organic farming and raise environmental awareness among the public. He said that social media is certainly an effective tool to awaken public opinion, but real change comes from collective action at the ground level.
In his address, environmental activist Raja Shakeel Khan reiterated his commitment to continuing his tree plantation campaign to address climate challenges.
He said that protecting forests is as important as planting trees. He urged local individuals and institutions to actively participate in the tree plantation campaign.
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The participants appreciated this initiative of Raja Shakeel Khan and assured full cooperation.
