By Farzana chaudhry Lahore Pakistan

LAHORE: The Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) has ordered a plantation drive at cemeteries in districts under its jurisdiction, focusing on shade-giving and locally suited tree species.

During a meeting, PHA Director General Ahmad Usman Javaid directed district managing directors to identify suitable sites at cemeteries in their respective cities and prepare plantation plans.

He said priority would be given to native, evergreen and dense tree species that can provide shade while adapting well to local climatic conditions. These would include pilkan, terminalia, gab and other indigenous varieties.

Mr Javaid said tree species would be selected carefully to ensure that their roots do not damage graves. Deep-rooted varieties would be preferred at locations suitable for plantation, he added.

The district agencies were also directed to select species capable of surviving with limited water, making the plantation drive easier to maintain and more sustainable.

The director general said that where there is insufficient space between graves for planting trees, authorities would opt for small flowering plants instead.

“Planting trees is a form of charity,” Mr Javaid said, adding that the initiative aims not only to increase greenery but also to make cemeteries more shaded, pleasant and environmentally sustainable.

The PHA conducts its annual plantation drives during the monsoon season, when seasonal rainfall provides favourable conditions for sapling growth and establishment. The authority prioritises native and shade-giving species in its plantation campaigns.

Mr Javaid said native species had been prioritised for their leaf structure, which allows greater absorption of pollutants. Dense conifers such as pines, he added, can serve as year-round biological filters.

Meanwhile, district agencies have also undertaken anti-smog measures across cities in Punjab, including the regular watering of trees and green belts to settle dust and airborne particulate matter.