LAHORE – WWF-Pakistan has planned to plant a total of 1.4 million trees by August 2019 through an active participation of different stakeholders, local communities, and passionate individuals.
The campaign, titled Rung Do Pakistan, is an opportunity for all Pakistanis to come together and play their part in contributing positively towards protecting our ecosystem and to help WWF-Pakistan either by planting native tree species wherever they are or donating to the organization so that it may fulfill its promise to the nation.
In the second phase of the Rung Do Pakistan campaign, WWF-Pakistan will launch its fundraising campaign where it is encouraging individuals, corporates, and partners to donate to the cause.
Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, WWF-Pakistan said, “When we speak about addressing environmental challenges, often the suggested solutions require policy changes at the government level”.
“Through Rung Do Pakistan we are encouraging individual action to plant trees in cities and villages across the length and breadth of the country,” he added.
The Rung Do music video with the plantation call to action is being released nationwide on the eve of Independence Day.
Zufliqar Jabbar Khan, lead guitarist of Call the Band and co-songwriter of Rung Do said, “With this song, we aim to make a difference, a difference that matters. Rung Do started off as a song but has now evolved into a movement with one aim: to inspire people to plant a tree, and to bring the importance and urgency of this act to the mainstream. And while we are on this mission, we want to show kitna pyara humara Pakistan hai (how beautiful is our Pakistan); its places and people, and its amazing diversity and beauty.
“I’ve travelled the world but seldom have I seen what Pakistan has to offer anywhere else. We often see how positivity sometimes gets lost in the midst of other news and information. Through Rung Do, we aim to unite the whole country on this one mission and show the world the essence of Pakistan, a country with the ability to be one of the most prosperous in the world.”
Pakistan is among the top ten countries affected by climate change and one of the simplest actions citizens can take is to help increase the forest cover of our country, one tree at a time. Through this campaign, WWF-Pakistan aims to contribute to the Bonn Challenge, a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.
Inspired by this nationwide campaign, the Pakistan Telecommunications (PTCL) has also pledged to contribute 200,000 mangrove saplings, JS Bank will provide 20,000 saplings and Habitt Home Store will provide 10,000 saplings. While, Daraz.pk and Careem will contribute by raising funds through their businesses and Tune.pk and Latitude CRS will support the campaign through their promotions.
Moreover, Sybrid Pvt. Ltd, Orix Modaraba, Vulture Dive, BASF, Dolmen Mall, Giraffe and FM 91 have also come on board with a commitment to the plantation.
It is expected that 1.4 million trees at maturity will sequester 70 million pounds of atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is also estimated that the raising of 1.4 million plants from potted plants, cutting and sowing will generate 8,750 man-days of employment for local people and 1,400 hectares of forest cover will recharge about 1,344 million liters of water annually.
