The government’s initiative of planting 10 billion trees is a hallmark step to fight the challenges of climate changes, environmental issues and increasing pollution, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa.

He addressed tree-plantation campaign arranged by the Department of Forestry and Range Management, UAF at the university farms. Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa urged the citizens to play pivotal role in increasing plantation net in the country for the said issue for prosperous Pakistan. He said that the globe was having 3 trillion trees whereas its population has risen to seven billion people. A person needs atleast 3 trees to meet his requirement of oxygen. We have to beef up efforts to increase green net. He directed the university officials to introduce best technologies and best practices in the farms, enabling the farming community to multiply it and to ensure food security. He said that different plants pocket will be established at the campus. He said that after adding up 10 billion trees in the country, weather pattern in Pakistan would change altogether. Department Chairman Dr Tahir Siddique said that that international standards of forest net in the country was 25 percent whereas, it stands less than four percent in the country. He said that plantation was prerequisite fight the challenges of climate changes and to ensure clean environment. Director Farm Shahid Afzaal Gill said that fast depleting glaciers has emerged a real; challenge. He said that besides addressing the issue of increasing pollution, we have to raise the forest and green net for fighting the challenge. Dr Irfan Ahmad said that collaborated efforts will increase the green cover and protect biodiversity in the country. He also called for boosting up steps against deforestation, causing global warming in the world. The ongoing book fair set up at University of Agriculture Faisalabad has been extended till March 15 keeping in the view the interest shown by book lovers in fair, said Librarian Dr Umar Farooq. A large number of people turned up to the UAF library in droves to browse and get the books of their interests. It is offering a vast range of printed material ranging from art to science; agriculture to engineering; Urdu, English literature, Islamic books, medical books, basic and applied sciences, history, biographies, novels and kids books. The fair was opened on March 12, meant to promote book reading habit in the society. As many as 35 publishers across the country have set up their stalls in which around 50,000 books are put on the display at the disconnected rate.