Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has announced a comprehensive afforestation initiative along the River Indus, targeting 34,995 acres in the Jamshoro and Matiari districts, according to PressTonight. This effort is part of a broader reforestation project spanning 88,022 hectares across seven districts in the province.
The announcement was made during the 45th meeting of the Public-Private Partnership Policy Board, held at the CM House on Monday. Shah emphasized the critical need for reforestation, citing a 2017 World Wildlife Fund report that classified Pakistan as a forest-poor country, with forest cover below six percent, far short of the 25 percent minimum recommended.
In addition to the afforestation efforts, the Chief Minister approved the construction of an expressway linking the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Terminal to the Jam Sadiq Bridge, where the Malir Expressway begins. Shah highlighted the severe climatic challenges faced by Sindh, particularly in light of the devastating floods in 2022. He stressed that increasing forest cover is vital for enhancing the province’s resilience against such climate-related risks.
Shah also praised the Sindh Forest Department’s successful Delta Blue Carbon projects, which have improved mangrove cover and generated revenue through carbon credits. He directed the department to expand afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR) activities over 100,000 acres of designated forest land.
