LAHORE: Punjab University has established a Miyawaki forest on two acres of its New Campus under the guidance of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Muhammad Ali. The initiative, aimed at enhancing the environment, involved the planting of 10,000 trees in a ceremony held at the site on Monday.

According to University of the Punjab, the event featured addresses from prominent university figures, including Director General Student Affairs Prof Dr. Rehan Sadiq Shaikh, Resident Officer-II Prof Dr. Majid Khan, and Chief Conservator of the Forest Department Sheikh Saqib. The ceremony was attended by faculty members, students, and forest department officials. Prof Dr. Muhammad Ali highlighted that the land used for the forest had been under illegal occupation for 50 years before being reclaimed by the university. He emphasized the university's commitment to environmental stewardship and noted that the newly developed forest serves as a gift to Lahore.

Sheikh Saqib explained the significance of Miyawaki plantations, describing them as an innovative approach to urban forestation with a high capacity for carbon absorption and oxygen production. He praised the university's initiative, considering it a crucial step in addressing climate change. Prof Dr. Majid Khan reiterated the number of trees planted, underscoring the project's scale and potential impact on the local ecosystem.