KARACHI: The International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, launched a day-long plantation drive to celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
More than 200 medicinal and fruit trees were planted on the premises of the international center to create an Urban Forest.
Prof. Dr. Atta-ur Rahman, Professor Emeritus and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology, and Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaheen, the Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences launched the drive.
In the one-day plantation drive, Prof. Dr. Atta-ur Rahman, Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaheen, and Senior Professor Dr. M. Raza Shah planted saplings.
The plantation drive was also attended by Prof. Dr. Syed Abid Ali, Prof. Dr. Syed Ghulam Musharraf, Prof. Dr. Asmat Saleem, Prof. Dr. Shabana Simjee, Prof. Dr. Zaheer-Ul-Haq, Dr. Imran Malik, Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed, and a large number of students, research officers, and other faculty members.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Atta-ur-Rahman said that climate change in the form of extreme weather poses a serious threat to life on Earth. The plantation of trees is the need of the hour as trees are the best-known ‘technology’ to cool our planet, he said, adding that trees can reverse global warming.
Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaheen said that Karachi city was badly affected by climate change, while the creation of an urban forest in the ICCBS was, undoubtedly, an environment-friendly step.
She said the significance of urban forests in connection with climate change in Karachi could not be ignored, as living near urban forests has shown positive impacts on mental health.
She pointed out that urban forestry could play a pivotal role in addressing environmental issues, including those related to erosion control, noise, and air pollution abatement, wastewater management, watershed protection, etc.
