LAHORE–A mass tree plantation drive on Thursday started at the New Campus of the Government College University in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Tiger Force and Deputy Commissioner Office, Shiekhupura.
Member Punjab Assembly Umar Aftab Dhillon along with Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Asghar Zaidi inaugurated the plantation drive by planting saplings outside the University’s Boys’ Hostel. Deputy Commissioner, Sheikhupura Muhammad Asghar Joya, Assistant Commissioner Ferozwala Zahid Khan, Mr. Umar Sikandar Bhatti and the members of GCU Horticulture Society and PM Tiger Force were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, MPA Umar Dhillon said that research in agriculture and mass tree plantation were crucial for the food security and counter the threats of climate change and pollution. He said he was a Ravian and it was a matter of great pride for him to plant a tree on the new campus of his own alma mater.
He appreciated the role of Tiger Force in raising awareness among people about the Coronavirus, saying that this force would play leading role in all initiatives of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Asghar Zaidi said that fighting the climate change was the collective responsibility of whole nation. He said that he had a plan to develop this new campus of GCU Lahore as a research hub for agro biotechnology. He mentioned that the University’s two departments would be shifted to this campus in September this year to start the academic activities, while the first phase of this campus would become fully completed by September 2020. More departments will start functioning by the end of the current year.
Prof. Zaidi said there were some security concerns in this area of KSK and they needed the support of local administration to address these concerns for the safety of their faculty, students and staff members.
Deputy Commissioner, Sheikhupura Muhammad Asghar Joya emphasized the need to tackle pollution and smog through this plantation. He also assured of all collaborations with the GCU–PRESS RELEASE
