SUKKUR: Sindh Minister for Local Government (LG), Information and Forests Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has inaugurated Sukkur People’s Urban Forest, which is spread over 110 acres with a length of 4.2km and lies between banks of Dadu and Rice Canals.
The 300 feet wide forest between the two major canals starts from the city point and ends at the Sukkur bypass near the airport. 32 species of trees have been planted, including Tweta Kaner, Amaltas, Sukh Chain, Neem, Tipopia, Talhi, Bottle Brush, Suhanjhro, Injeer, Gul-e-Nashter, Tacoma, Simbal Jacranda, Tabobia, Peeple and others.
The project was approved with the special efforts of the Sindh LG minister in the financial year 2019-20. It was informed that lift irrigation mode would be used to irrigate the forest plants.
Its facilities will include a 10 feet walking track, 10 feet cycling track, a sitting area, log huts and a grass lawn. Moreover, a plan has been conceived to install 272 solar lights in the forest to keep it illuminated in the evening for visitors.
Addressing a press conference, Shah said that on the directives of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the Sindh government has envisaged developing urban forests in major cities of the province. He said that Sukkur is second after Karachi, where urban forests have been inaugurated today.
“I am glad that today the project has been inaugurated. The credit goes to Chief Conservator Forest Dr Abdul Jabbar Qazi, Conservator Forest Saleem Vistro and their team for completing this project.”
He informed that land, where the forest has been developed, was retrieved from the encroachers. He added that no formal scheme was prepared for this project and the forest department team had made it possible in limited funds.
The minister stated that tree plantation would be carried out in other parts of district Sukkur and directed local councils, including municipal corporations, district councils, town committees and union councils, to spare funds Sindh government’s monthly grants for tree plantation, adding that the strict monitoring would be ensured and civil society and media persons would be included in the monitoring teams.
He informed that forests were also being developed on millions of acre of retrieved land throughout the province. He said that on March 15, 100,000 samplings would be planted in Hyderabad and Chairman Bilawal would be invited to the event.
Apart from the urban forest project, the Sindh government has launched a greenery project in Sindh with a cost of Rs600 million. Moreover, the Green Pakistan Project will provide the Sindh government with a share of Rs3016.350 million.
The minister stressed that this forest is not only for recreational purposes, but plays a vital role in combating climate change. “I congratulate people of Sukkur for getting People’s Urban Project after projects like Women University, Arore University and NICVD,” the minister maintained, adding that the PPP was committed to serve the people.
The minister assured the people that additional funds and human resources would be provided to project administration while schemes would be approved for existing projects. The minister appealed to the citizens of Sukkur to own this project as it will add to the beauty of Sindh’s third largest city.
Earlier, the Sindh Chief Conservator Forest Dr Abdul Jabbar Qazi briefed about the forest project, wherein he stated that it needed maintenance for at least five years until saplings grow into adult trees. He said that human resources and necessary machinery is also required.
Sukkur Commissioner Shafiq Ahmed Mahessar, and others were also present on the occasion.
