Punjab govt accelerates green initiatives to combat smog, pollution

Punjab government has intensified efforts to combat smog and environmental pollution over the past one and a half years.

Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said that 59,532 saplings have been planted over 82 acres in Changa Manga, alongside active weedicide spraying to control invasive vegetation. 

In Thal Mengraj Forest, barren land is being converted into fertile areas through afforestation. In Rajanpur, 2,091 acres have been prepared, with 290,400 saplings already planted on 800 acres. As part of the National Carbon Emission Control Project, a total of 291,800 trees have been planted around brick kilns, while the Agroforestry Project is utilizing solar-powered irrigation systems to green the desert areas of Thal, Mengraj, and others.

A large-scale tree plantation campaign is also underway across the province, covering rivers, canals, schools, colleges, roads, parks, offices, and intersections. Urban Forest Project is in active implementation as part of this broader vision for a greener Punjab.