Pakistan mangrove cover to set record

Country to reach 4th or 5th spot in the world, says Sindh minister

Pakistan’s position on the world ranking of countries having most mangrove trees in their coastal zones will further improve in the coming months owing to the plantation campaign by the Sindh government’s Forest Department.

“Pakistan at present stands at seventh position on the world ranking of mangrove forests as in the next two to three months our standing will further improve to fourth or fifth position,” said Sindh local government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah who had held the portfolio of Sindh Forest Department.

The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the 18th Annual Environment Meeting.

He said the Sindh Forest Department’s aggressive campaign to grow mangrove forests on the coastline of the province was like a revolution as earlier it had even clinched the world record by planting most number of mangrove plants in a single day.

Campaign in Karachi

Shah said that urban forestry campaign was also underway in Karachi in the areas of Lyari Expressway, Clifton and Shah Faisal Colony.

He said the provincial local government department had been undertaking a number of projects related to sewage and industrial effluent treatment plants to improve environmental conditions.

Speaking as the guest of honour of the event, Sindh Environment and Climate Change Minister, Ismail Rahoo, said the provincial government surely required help of the concerned non-governmental organisations and the private sector to overcome the challenging issue of environmental degradation.