PM Imran to inaugurate ‘Asia’s largest’ Miyawaki urban forest on August 4

LAHORE: In an attempt to restore Pakistan’s forest cover, Prime Minister Imran Khan will inaugurate ‘Asia’s largest’ Miyawaki urban forest that will be spread over 100 kanals on Wednesday at Saggian in Lahore.

Chairman Board of Directors Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) Syed Yasir Gillani told BOL News that the ‘biggest’ Miyawaki urban forest will be inaugurated at Saggian located along the left side of river Ravi. He added that 160,000 plants will be planted at the forest.

The chairman while shedding light on the benefits of the Miyawaki plants, said that according to Dr Akira Miyawaki planting over 1,100 Miyawaki plants in 1 kanal can yield 30 per cent more oxygen with a 40 per cent absorption of carbon dioxide from the environment. The plant is also beneficial as they grow with a 10 per cent greater efficiency rate than the normal plants.

According to details, the decision of installing Miyawaki forests is recommended by the World Economic Forum. In order to fight global climate emergency, PHA took the initiative, in line with the PM’s vision.

PHA chairman added that the rising urban population had led to a decrease in forests, and is confident that by installing such forests, Pakistanis will be able to live in a purified environment.

Environmentalist Imrana Tiwana, in conversation with BOL News, lauded the PM’s vision such as the Billion Tree Tsunami and the Clean and Green Programme.

“The prime minister is steering a very powerful and critical agenda for Pakistan, by putting it on the map as a viable economic force, along with preserving, restoring and rejuvenating our invaluable built and natural heritage,” she said.

For Tiwana, Pakistan’s heritage is unparalleled in the world, and feels that it must be put on the world map.

“This Miyawaki Forest, the largest in Asia is a trailblazer, exemplary work, establishing us as world leaders in this field. The Ministry of Climate Change must be congratulated for taking a step in the right direction,” she added.

However, Meezan Zahra Khwaja, a senior research associate at Sustainable Development Policy Institute, said that building a forest is not enough and called on PM Imran to do more as the country is racing against time.

“We just don’t need oxygen to survive, we also need to stop the rapid pace of consumerism in our society at present. The Mall culture needs to go and be replaced by us being proud of our nationality, and being local and buying local, whether it’s from Hawwa crafts, Behbud, Polly and Other Stories, or just local artisans in our villages, cities and rural areas,” said the researcher. She added that Pakistan needs to get out of the neo-colonial mentality.