BAHAWALPUR: The district government has launched the ‘Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2017’ with a target of planting 400,000 saplings across the district. In this regard, a ceremony was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, where DC Rana Saleem Afzal kicked off the campaign. More than 140,000 saplings will be planted on the land under the Forests Department, 35,000 saplings on the land under the Defence Department, 35,000 saplings on the land of other departments, while 145,000 saplings will be panted on private land under the campaign. Deputy Commissioner Rana Saleem Afzal said that the basic aim of the Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2017 is to create awareness among the people for planting maximum trees so that environmental pollution due to increasing population could be overcome. The deputy commissioner directed the department concerned to register cases against those involved in illegal cutting of trees.