Summary：**CM hails Punjab’s plantation drive – Business Recorder** **Introduction** Punjab’s Chief Ministe

**CM hails Punjab’s plantation drive – Business Recorder**

**Introduction**
Punjab’s Chief Minister recently lauded the state’s ambitious plantation drive, calling it a cornerstone of the province’s environmental and economic strategy. Speaking at a ceremony in Lahore, the CM highlighted that over 12 million saplings have been planted across rural and urban areas since the initiative’s launch earlier this year. The effort aims to combat deforestation, improve air quality, and create green jobs for local communities.

**Key Developments**
The plantation campaign, coordinated by the Forest Department in partnership with NGOs and private sector firms, has focused on native species such as shisham, neem, and eucalyptus. Officials report a survival rate of approximately 78 % after the first monsoon season, surpassing the national average of 65 %. In addition to tree planting, the program includes watershed management, soil conservation workshops, and the distribution of fruit‑bearing saplings to smallholder farmers to boost agroforestry incomes. A digital monitoring platform, launched in July, tracks planting locations in real time using satellite imagery and community‑reported data, ensuring transparency and rapid corrective action.

**Industry Analysis**
Environmental economists note that Punjab’s drive aligns with Pakistan’s broader climate commitments under the Paris Agreement and the National Climate Change Policy. By expanding forest cover, the state seeks to sequester an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2030, contributing to national mitigation targets. The initiative also addresses pressing urban heat‑island effects in cities like Faisalabad and Multan, where rising temperatures have strained energy grids and public health. From an economic perspective, the agroforestry component is projected to generate PKR 2.5 billion in additional farm income over the next five years, while creating roughly 15,000 seasonal jobs in nursery management, planting, and maintenance.

**Future Outlook**
Looking ahead, the Punjab government plans to scale the plantation drive to 30 million saplings by 2026, with a particular emphasis on restoring degraded riverine ecosystems along the Indus and its tributaries. Officials are exploring public‑private partnerships to fund nurseries and introduce fast‑growing, high‑value timber species that could support a sustainable wood‑products industry. Experts