Islamabad (DNA): CDA Member Environment Capt. (Retd) Anwar ul Haq visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) along with Director General Environment Ms. Xenia Hamayun Sanik and Director Environment Akhtar Rasool and said that ICCI should join hands with CDA to promote the tree plantation drive in the Capital as the support of the business community is very important in making this drive successful.
He said that the CDA is ready to give a piece of land to ICCI for tree plantation so that the business community can plant maximum saplings there and also take responsibility for their maintenance and upkeep. He said that CDA will identify the species of plants while the business community can also select the species in consultation with CDA.
He said that filtration plants and washrooms are ready in many sectors and CDA is ready to hand over these facilities to the concerned market associations if they take the responsibility of their maintenance and operation with own resources. He said that the CDA is also ready to allow ICCI to display its digital logo on the Zero Point Bridge and maintain it with its own resources. He said that allergy-causing trees like paper mulberry are being eliminated in Islamabad to save people from allergies. He also started a plantation drive by planting a sapling in the Chamber.
Expressing his thoughts on this occasion, President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ahsan Zafar Bakhtavari said that the chamber had earlier planted thousands of saplings in Islamabad under the Go Green campaign in collaboration with CDA and the chamber This year, with the support of the business community, the plantation campaign in the markets will be carried out in an effective manner to promote a healthy environment by making Islamabad greener and greener. He said that along with planting new trees, a strategy should be made for proper maintenance of old trees so that they can be kept safe. He said that the CDA should organize entrance and exit gates in the markets with the help of the Chamber, which will increase the beauty of the city.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Senator Lt. Gen. (Retd) Abdul Qayyum Khan appreciated the efforts of CDA to carry forward the plantation drive. He said that the keen interest of the business community in making the plantation campaign successful in collaboration with CDA for the promotion of a healthy environment is commendable. He also informed the participants about his efforts for the plantation drive in Chakwal.
Ms. Xenia Hamayun Sanik, DG Environment CDA said that the civic body wants to promote tree plantation drive in collaboration with the business community as their support is crucial for its success.
Engr. Azharul Islam Zafar, Vice President ICCI said that the old trees should be tagged to show their age and special measures should be taken for their preservation to prolong their life span.
Zafar Bakhtavari, former President ICCI and Secretary General UBG, said that only 10 to 15% saplings grow into trees, so special attention should be paid to their proper care. He urged the Office Bearers of Market Associations to fully cooperate with the CDA in the plantation drive to make the city of Islamabad cleaner and greener.
Former President ICCI Zahid Maqbool, Jinnah Supermarket President Asad Aziz, Chaudhry Mohammad Ali from PWD, Raja Hasan Akhtar President Blue Area, Zahid Qureshi from I-8 Markaz, Akhtar Abbasi from Abpara Market, Chaudhry Abdul Ghaffar from G-9 Markaz. Mirza Muhammad Ali, Ms. Munizeh Majid and others also assured all possible cooperation to make the plantation drive a success. They stressed that the old sewage lines in the markets should be replaced with new ones as the old lines are no longer able to bear the load and often get blocked due to the increase in the population of the city.
