Daily Times

Sir: The ‘Let’s Green Turbat’ team has launched a campaign for the plantation of trees for the protection of Turbat’s environment from the rising temperatures in the region.

The campaign was founded by Salman Shabeer, Mehrab Taj and Zargul Zubair, under the support of 80 members, who have successfully contributed to the planting of more than 4000 tree saplings in several available private residences and public spaces, which include schools, parks, roadsides etc.

The campaign’s contribution is commendable and it is a good first step in trying to curb the problem of rising temperatures and the detrimental effects of climate change. The city has recently suffered through record temperatures and the poor residents of this region are in dire need of respite, as they have not seen rain for the past seven years, on top of the worsening heat wave. There is an urgent need to plant more trees to save the environment, as the harmful effects can already be seen, with the people of the city complaining of water shortages; while the farmers have seen their crops go to dust in the current barren environment.

The ‘Let’s Green Turbat’ (LGT) team has initiated a positive step by trying to help reduce the negative impact on the environment due to lack of rain and climate change, yet no government department has stepped forward to support them in their inspirational endeavour. Only the Forests Department donated some tree samplings, as the LGT has to pay for their campaign out of their own pocket. The campaign needs the help of the government of Balochistan and all the citizens need to join hands as well, in order to make this tree planting drive a success.

So, I humbly request the Chief Minister of Balochistan and Deputy Commissioner of Turbat to support this worthwhile campaign, so they too can play a small part in the protection of the environment. We hope that the government will support the LGT team in order to spread greenery all across Turbat as soon as possible.

SHAKEEL PHULLAN

Turbat

Published in Daily Times, September 7^th 2018.