Daily Times

KARACHI: Environmental pollution on the rise of the industrial and concerned government and public private sectors, which continues after outdated infrastructure and shortage of resources in the metropolis.

To maintain the natural beauty and environmental conditions, there is a dire need of plantation in Karachi, as the population progress and urbanisation at large since 40 years.

In spite of this, negligence of government and other authorities concerned are high, as they have removed thousands of trees on account of development and beauty of Karachi.

As per reports, a giant housing society Bahria Town during its development of 100,000 acres land by new constructions was recently removed a large number of trees and greenery on large spread land to mountains from Super Highway in Karachi.

The surrounded villages and dwellers disclosed to the Daily Times that over 50,000 small and big trees including bushes, which spread over hundred of thousand acres of land in Gadap and other areas have been removed by the authorities of Bahria.

Accoring to reports, it was also noted that Punjab Forest Department had lodged a complaint against Bahria Town and also the petition alleged destruction of the forestland and illegal and forcible acquisition of about 1,416 acres of land by the Bahria Town in Rakh Takht Pari area in collusion with the revenue officials, where thousands of trees were removed.

The prime minister of Pakistan had launched BRT Green Line Project on modern lines to alleviate traffic congestion problems in the city and to improve the quality of life of daily commuters in existing transport system. After project implementation of rapid urbanisation and motorisation to mitigate transportation externalities started to remove old trees and greenery of Karachi, which have infested the environment abruptly.

Sources told that Defence Housing Authority (DHA) also cut various trees located in the vicinity of DHA and different locations of roadsides in Karachi. The environmental pollution is increasing day-by-day coupled with various issues and different viral and other diseases.

District Municipal Corporations (DMCs) have failed to maintain decades old trees and greenery in Karachi gardens despite thousands of workers and resources with heavy budget in hand. They have also failed to meet the objectives and not utilising the resources accordingly.

The roadside illegal occupation of markets, restaurants, shops have removed old trees on both the sides and the footpath greenery as well.

The government needs to take special measures for tree plantation on urgent and emergency basis to protect the environmental issues in Karachi. The government should make it compulsory for every individual, home, businesses and city to plant minimum one tree till its development during three to five years otherwise there should be a fine or punishment to be imposed if someone fails to do so. The people have demanded that the DMCs should immediately announce tree-planting campaign in Karachi and announce Rs 25 each prize for this purpose like KP government had announced hunting and killing a mouse for Rs 25 each.