Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has hailed the province's plantation drive as an unprecedented green revolution, achieved through collective government and public effort. In a social media post, she urged every citizen to plant at least one tree to build a greener future.
Key Milestones of Punjab Plantation Drive 2025-26
The chief minister reported that the Punjab Plantation Drive 2025-26 has planted 40 million saplings, covered 41,342 acres with new forest, and lined 3,085 avenue miles with trees. Barren lands from Dera Ghazi Khan to Bahawalpur are being transformed into thriving forests, marking the start of a long-term environmental transformation.
Two-Year Afforestation Mission Success
Maryam Nawaz noted that the completion of Punjab’s two-year afforestation mission is among the most significant environmental achievements in the province's history. Between April 2024 and Spring 2026, nearly 50 million trees were planted across 54,986 acres. The impact is visible from Muzaffargarh to Murree, Chichawatni to Faisalabad, and Rahim Yar Khan to Gujranwala, where degraded landscapes are turning green again.
Citizen Participation and Vision
Describing tree plantation as “tomorrow’s inheritance,” the chief minister urged active participation: “What was grey is now green, and what is green shall be protected. This is our gift to generations we may never meet. One mission-one greener Punjab.” She expressed confidence that by the next decade, Punjab will be a province of forests, clean air, and living rivers.
Restoration of Barren Lands
Under the Plant for Pakistan Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2025, thousands of acres were converted into green landscapes between October 2024 and June 2025. Key sites include Ghazi Ghat in Muzaffargarh (1.815 million saplings over 1,500 acres), Thul Maghraj in Rajanpur (559,000 plants over 2,091 acres), Khanani and Rakh Murghai in Muzaffargarh (708,000 plants across 1,470 acres), and Pakhowal in Gujrat (242,000 plants over 200 acres). Restoration also expanded to Jhok Reserve Forest, Lal Suhanra, Mianwali, Gujranwala, and Murree.
Modern Technology for Forest Conservation
The chief minister highlighted the use of modern technology for forest conservation. Punjab’s forests are monitored round the clock through the Forest Department’s GIS Lab, using AI-powered drones, satellite imagery, and a modern command and control centre. The digital system enables instant detection of illegal tree cutting, encroachments, and forest fires via satellite platforms including Landsat, Sentinel, SPOT, and WorldView, ensuring timely action.
Calling forests a national trust, Maryam Nawaz said every technological innovation reinforces efforts to conserve Punjab’s natural heritage and secure a greener future. She reiterated her appeal to citizens to plant a tree and play their role in protecting the environment.
