LAHORE, Oct 25 (APP):The Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) has established the province’s first dedicated orchards for trees relocated during development projects.
PHA Director General Ahmad Usman Javaid told media on Sunday that in the first phase,the orchards have been established at Bagh-e-Jinnah,Kaleem Shaheed Park and Dhobi Ghat Park in Faisalabad.
The district horticulture agency identified 795 trees for transplantation,of which 352 have been relocated while work on the remaining 443 was underway.
Bagh-e-Jinnah received 166 trees,Dhobi Ghat Park 127 and Kaleem Shaheed Park 59.
The initiative follows the introduction of the Public Parks, Greenbelts, and Green Areas Protection & Regulated Emergency Transplantation Regulations, 2026, in March to strengthen the protection and management of green spaces across Punjab.
Under the regulations,transplantation must be considered before a tree was felled.
If removal was unavoidable,at least 20 saplings must be planted for every tree cut down.
The requirement rises to 50 saplings if a transplanted tree dies.
Replacement trees must be native, climate-resilient species and maintained for at least three years.
The regulations also make an Arboricultural Impact Assessment mandatory for major development projects that may affect existing trees.
The assessment identifies potential damage and recommends mitigation measures before construction begins.
The framework establishes uniform standards for tree transplantation,protection during construction and post-transplant care,requiring all 21 district horticulture agencies under the PHA to comply with the same rules, Mr Javaid said.
He said the initiative reflected the government’s commitment to protecting Punjab’s green cover and ensuring that development activities were accompanied by effective conservation measures.
The PHA has also completed its annual monsoon plantation drive,prioritizing indigenous,shade-giving tree species.
Mr Javaid said the broader objective was to integrate plantation into urban planning as a sustained activity with proper watering, maintenance and monitoring to ensure sapling survival.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
