ABBOTTABAD
In a significant step toward promoting afforestation and addressing the escalating impacts of climate change, the Water and Sanitation Services Company (WSSC) Abbottabad, in collaboration with various educational institutions, launched a massive tree plantation drive in the city.
The event aimed to raise environmental awareness and mobilize students and the local community in a collective effort to restore the region’s green cover.
The campaign was formally inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad, Capt (R) Sanaullah Khan, who distributed saplings to students at the under-construction Sherwan Hill Family Park on Shimla Pahari. Speaking at the event, the deputy commissioner emphasized the urgent need for environmental restoration.
“The only viable way to mitigate the impact of climate change is through large-scale tree plantation,” he said. “Trees not only prevent landslides and soil erosion but also help cool the environment, restore damaged ecosystems, and preserve biodiversity.”
Also present on the occasion was Chief Executive Officer of WSSC Abbottabad, Engr Rehan Yousaf, who planted a sapling and appreciated the enthusiastic participation of students and the public.
He highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainable urban development and eco-conscious planning under the broader framework of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP).
Students from COMSATS University Abbottabad Campus, Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute Haripur, Government Postgraduate College No. 1 Abbottabad, and Government Girls Degree College Mansehra actively took part in the campaign. Hundreds of saplings were distributed among them for plantation.
The event gained further momentum when local residents, inspired by the students’ energy and commitment, spontaneously joined the effort. Men, women, and even children from the surrounding communities began assisting with the plantation, turning it into a truly collective and community-driven campaign.
Deputy Commissioner Sanaullah Khan urged every household to plant at least one tree in their homes, fields, or nearby hills. He also stressed the need to actively discourage deforestation, which he described as a major factor contributing to environmental degradation and the increasing vulnerability of the region to natural disasters.
“We must take responsibility for reversing the damage we’ve done to nature. If we don’t act now, the consequences will be irreversible,” he warned, while thanking WSSC Abbottabad for organizing such a meaningful and large-scale initiative.
As part of the awareness campaign, the students were also taken on a study visit to the Choona Water Treatment Plant, a major infrastructure project being implemented under KPCIP.
The plant, currently under construction, aims to address the growing water scarcity in Abbottabad. Umar Swati, Manager Media and Communication, briefed the students on the challenges of the city’s water supply system, including the alarming depletion of groundwater, outdated pumping machinery, and a network unable to meet the city’s growing demands.
He informed that the Choona Plant will purify 6.85 million gallons (300 liters per second) of water daily, sourced from mountain springs.
Once operational, it will serve over 36,000 households and meet the city’s water needs until 2050. Engineers on-site explained the plant’s design, which includes a 17-kilometer-long pipeline transporting water from elevated terrain to ensure gravity-based flow, making the system more energy-efficient and sustainable.
