Under the Clean and Green Pakistan initiative of the government, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is planting 50,000 trees in different areas across the country during the current year. 

PIA Company Secretary Muhammad Shoaib informed this while speaking at a tree plantation ceremony at PIA Township, Karachi.

The tree plantation ceremony at PIA Model Secondary School was jointly organised by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry, PIA, and National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH). A special 74 metres long flag of Pakistan was unfurled on the occasion by the teachers and students of the PIA Model Secondary School.

Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Sohaib said that the PIA regardless of its financial position would continue to act upon its commitments to improve the environment and further the Corporate Social Responsibility goals. He said that tree plantation activity was one such noble commitment of the PIA. He said that PIA would remain committed to such noble causes.

NFEH President Naeem Qureshi said that the tree cover in Karachi should be 25 per cent but in actual it had reduced to merely 2.87 per cent. He said that 300,000 trees were planted with the support of the government, non-government organisations and corporate and industrial organisations under the tree plantation campaign launched by the NFEH a few years back. He said that the support of organisations like Airport Security Force and Civil Aviation Authority was being sought to further this plantation campaign in surrounding areas of airports.

Naeem Qureshi said that 10,000 trees would be planted every year under the drive while another 1,000 trees would be planted to develop an urban forest in Karachi. The NFEH president said that no donation, financial support or grant was used to further this tree plantation drive as the same was done with the support of NGOS. 

Sohaib Dhari, PIA GM (Welfare), noted cricketers Shoaib Muhammad, Moin Khan, and other distinguished guests from various walks of life attended the event and took part in the plantation activity at and in surroundings of the PIA Model School.