Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Tuesday launched the tree plantation drive by planting a sapling at the Punjab House Islamabad. Speaking on the occasion, he said that plantation of maximum number of trees is needed to remain safe from the climate change impacts. Trees are a true friend of the human beings and the children should be especially sensitised about their importance for promoting green environment in the society. He asserted that the target of plantation of millions of trees will be achieved and hoped that clean and green program will be helpful in combating the growing challenges arising due to climate change. I am personally monitoring the progress made on this campaign, he added. He directed that participation of citizens should be ensured to make this campaign a success. Increasing forests’ size will be helpful in combating environmental degradation and recent rains are beneficial for the plantation of trees. The chief minister directed that every department should plant maximum number of trees and citizens, especially the youth, should also be involved in this beneficial activity through social forestry. Plantation of trees is also needed to deal with the growing crisis of water scarcity in future. He said that forest department will provide plants to the people for in-house plantation while tree-plantation is made compulsory in housing societies in the province so that climate change impacts could be dealt with. Meanwhile, Buzdar took notice of police torture on a youth in Shakargarh and sought a report from RPO Gujranwala. He has directed to investigate the matter adding that legal as well as departmental actions should be initiated against the police officials responsible for torture as such a incident is not acceptable in any form. Separately, Buzdar expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious human lives in army aviation plane crash incident in Rawalpindi and extended sympathies to the bereaved families. He has directed the administration to provide best healthcare facilities to the injured adding that administrative officers should personally supervise the provision of medical facilities to the injured.