ABBOTTABAD
\nIn 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.
\nThe event aimed to raise environmental awareness and mobilize students and the local community in a collective effort to restore the region\u2019s green cover.
\nThe 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.
\n\u201cThe only viable way to mitigate the impact of climate change is through large-scale tree plantation,\u201d he said. \u201cTrees not only prevent landslides and soil erosion but also help cool the environment, restore damaged ecosystems, and preserve biodiversity.\u201d
\nAlso 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.
\nHe highlighted the company\u2019s commitment to sustainable urban development and eco-conscious planning under the broader framework of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP).
\nStudents 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.
\nThe event gained further momentum when local residents, inspired by the students\u2019 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.
\nDeputy 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.
\n\u201cWe must take responsibility for reversing the damage we\u2019ve done to nature. If we don\u2019t act now, the consequences will be irreversible,\u201d he warned, while thanking WSSC Abbottabad for organizing such a meaningful and large-scale initiative.
\nAs 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.
\nThe 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\u2019s water supply system, including the alarming depletion of groundwater, outdated pumping machinery, and a network unable to meet the city\u2019s growing demands.
\nHe informed that the Choona Plant will purify 6.85 million gallons (300 liters per second) of water daily, sourced from mountain springs.
\nOnce operational, it will serve over 36,000 households and meet the city\u2019s water needs until 2050. Engineers on-site explained the plant\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-493895","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n