Sindh Minister for Local Government and Forests Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has announced that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) chief Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will soon inaugurate the world’s largest urban forest that will be planted along the Lyari River in Karachi over an area of 26 kilometres.
According to The News, Shah, while speaking to journalists on Monday, vowed to ensure that only environment-friendly trees that bear fruits will be planted, and said the project had been initiated according to the vision of the PPP chairman.
The first phase of the project will be initiated at the bank of the Lyari River, while in the second phase, an urban forest will be planted along the Malir River, he added.
The minister directed the authorities concerned to make arrangements for setting up recreational facilities for citizens as part of the project and also ordered constructing small playgrounds for children as well as a jogging track.
He said that planting an urban forest along the rivers will turn the entire area into an attractive spot for local and foreign tourists. Shah added that such urban forests will also be planted in other parts of the city.
The minister said that apart from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), other political parties are also supporting the provincial government in the project and announced constructing football, boxing grounds as well as volleyball and basketball courts for children of the city so they can involve themselves in healthy activities.
The minister said that due to climate change and the ever-increasing temperature of Karachi, it was necessary to plant more trees. He also urged Karachiites to help in curbing pollution.
