LAHORE (Dunya News) - The Punjab government has decided to launch a large-scale afforestation project in Dera Ghazi Khan and several other districts of southern Punjab as part of efforts to expand forest cover and address environmental challenges.
According to sources, tree plantation activities worth Rs2.5 billion will be carried out on vacant forest land within the DG Khan Forest Circle. The proposed project aims to transform 7,249 acres of unused forest land into green areas across the province.
The Punjab government said the initiative is expected to play a significant role in mitigating environmental pollution, rising temperatures and the adverse impacts of climate change. Authorities have also decided to undertake immediate plantation activities on vacant land to help prevent encroachments on riverine forests.
Officials stated that the DG Khan Forest Circle accounts for nearly 57 percent of Punjab’s riverine forests, making the region a key focus of the project. Under the proposed plan, afforestation activities will be launched in Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Layyah and Kot Addu.
The project also includes the installation of solar-powered tube wells to ensure an effective irrigation system for newly planted areas. Authorities have proposed planting tree species suited to local environmental conditions, including shisham, kikar, neem, beri and mulberry.
According to the provincial government, the primary objectives of the initiative are to increase carbon storage capacity, reduce the intensity of smog, lessen the impact of rising temperatures and promote environmentally sustainable practices.
Officials said the project is expected to expand forested areas across southern Punjab while contributing to environmental protection, ecological stability and the long-term conservation of natural resources.