our correspondent
ABBOTABAD
The Pakistan Development Foundation (PDF) and Pakistan China Friendship Association Khyber Chapter (PCFA) organized the inauguration ceremony of its ongoing collaborative project Pak China Friendship Tree Plantation Campaign 2020 in Hazara Division to plant thousands of trees.
The ceremony was held at Commissioner’s House which was attended by Special Secretary to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Muhammad Khaliq Khan as Chief Guest. Besides him, Additional Commissioner Hazara Division, Muhammad Akbar Khan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Development Foundation, Muhammad Bilal Sethi, Secretary-general PCFA, Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani, SSP Operations Abbottabad, Chief Conservator of Forests, , Assistant Commissioners of Hazara Division, representatives of media and a large number of social activists were in attendance.
The Chief Guest planted a sapling of deodar in the premises of Commissioner’s House, Hazara and prayed for the successful completion of project. Addressing the ceremony, he remarked that Pakistan enjoys trustful relationships with China.
Plantation of these friendship trees is a proof that how people of Pakistan love their long-tested neighbor. The Chairman of the Pakistan Development Foundation, Muhammad Bilal Sethi remarked that deforestation deeply impacted our environment. Thinning of ozone layer and global warming are bigger issues for our concern. He encouraged the youth to come forward and discourage deforestation and cutting of trees.
Sethi also urged the youth to participate in plantation activities and put their efforts in making Pakistan clean and green. The Secretary General PCFA, Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani enlightened the audience by adding that since 2007, Abbottabad (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan) and Kashgar (Xinjiang, China) are declared as sister cities and thus, we can learn from them much in socioeconomic sector. He, while highlighting the objectives of this project added that it will engage masses in positive and useful activities.
He said that the trees planted under the tile “Pak China Friendship Tree” will be a proof that how both countries have deep rooted relationships. Gilani said that Pakistan and China are not only two neighboring countries but they have deep people to people connections as well.
At the end, souvenirs were distributed among special guests by the Chairman of the PDF, Muhammad Bilal Sethi and Secretary-general PCFA, Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani. Glowing tributes were presented to PDF and PCFA and volunteering this initiative.
