Punjab’s green transformation gains momentum as 40m saplings planted

• CM Maryam Nawaz says afforestation drive marks beginning of long-term environmental revival across Punjab

• Says nearly 50m trees planted over 54,986 acres in two-year mission

• 114 Schools of Eminence to become operational by Aug 14; target of 300 set for September

 LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Saturday expressed satisfaction over the remarkable progress of the province’s plantation campaign, declaring that Punjab’s Green Revolution had reached an unprecedented scale through the collective efforts of the government and the people. She said the afforestation drive was laying the foundation for a cleaner, greener and environmentally resilient Punjab, while separately hailing the overwhelming public response to admissions in the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence as a sign of renewed confidence in public-sector education.

In a post on X, the chief minister said the Punjab Plantation Drive 2025-26 had achieved significant milestones, with 40 million saplings planted, 41,342 acres brought under plantation and 3,085 avenue miles lined with trees across the province.

Alhamdulillah, Punjab’s Plantation Drive 2025-26 has taken our Green Revolution to a scale never witnessed in our province’s history.

🌳 40 million saplings planted
🌱 41,342 acres brought under plantation
🛣️ 3,085 avenue miles lined with trees

From DG Khan to Bahawalpur,… pic.twitter.com/eSJoA7ZdeU

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 11, 2026

She said barren land stretching from Dera Ghazi Khan to Bahawalpur was being transformed into thriving forests through the dedication and hard work of Team Punjab, adding that the campaign represented only the beginning of a long-term environmental transformation.

“This is just the beginning, Insha’Allah. By the grace of Allah, the Punjab of the next decade will be a province of forests, clean air and living rivers for generations to come,” the chief minister said.

Punjab’s forests are now protected around the clock through cutting-edge technology.

At the Punjab Forest Department’s GIS Lab, our green cover is monitored from the sky and from space using AI-powered drones, satellite imagery, and a modern command and control centre tracking… pic.twitter.com/tFOmrt8zBO

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 11, 2026

Maryam Nawaz further stated that the completion of Punjab’s two-year afforestation mission ranked among the most significant environmental achievements in the province’s history. Recalling the government’s commitment made two years ago to restore Punjab’s forests, she said that, by the grace of Allah, the pledge had been fulfilled with nearly 50 million trees planted across 54,986 acres of land between April 2024 and Spring 2026.

She said the impact of the campaign was now visible across the province, from Muzaffargarh to Murree, Chichawatni to Faisalabad, and Rahim Yar Khan to Gujranwala, where landscapes that had once been fading were turning green again.

The restoration of Punjab’s barren lands under the Plant for Pakistan Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2025 marks a historic milestone for our province.

From October 2024 to June 2025, we transformed thousands of acres of barren land into thriving green landscapes, Alhamdulillah.… pic.twitter.com/QmGGsu1hnH

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) July 11, 2026

“What was grey is now green, and what is green shall be protected. This is our gift to generations we may never meet, Insha’Allah,” she said, adding, “One mission. One greener Punjab.”

Highlighting achievements under the Plant for Pakistan Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2025, the chief minister said the restoration of Punjab’s barren lands represented another historic milestone, adding that thousands of acres of previously barren land had been transformed into thriving green landscapes between October 2024 and June 2025.

She shared details of major plantation sites, saying 1.815 million plants had been planted over 1,500 acres at Ghazi Ghat in Muzaffargarh, 559,000 plants over 2,091 acres at Thul Maghraj in Rajanpur, 708,000 plants over 1,470 acres at Khanani and Rakh Murghai in Muzaffargarh, and 242,000 plants over 200 acres at Pakhowal in Gujrat.

The chief minister said restoration work had also been expanded to Jhok Reserve Forest, Lal Suhanra, Mianwali, Gujranwala and Murree, reflecting the government’s resolve to build a greener and healthier Punjab for future generations.

Describing tree plantation as tomorrow’s inheritance, she urged citizens to plant a tree and become partners in the mission to create a greener Punjab.

Maryam Nawaz also highlighted the deployment of modern technology for forest conservation, saying Punjab’s forests were now being protected round the clock through the Forest Department’s GIS Lab using AI-powered drones, satellite imagery and a modern command and control centre.

She said the digital monitoring system enabled the instant detection of illegal tree cutting, encroachments and forest fires through satellite platforms, including Landsat, Sentinel, SPOT and WorldView.

Calling forests a national trust, the chief minister said every technological innovation was strengthening their protection and safeguarding Punjab’s green future for generations to come. She reiterated her appeal to citizens to plant a tree and play their part in preserving the environment for future generations.

 Over 71,000 apply for Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence

In a related development, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the overwhelming response to admissions in the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence reflected renewed public confidence in government schools, as more than 71,000 students had applied for admission to 65 institutions established under the initiative.

Chairing a special meeting to review progress on the project, the chief minister was informed that the admissions campaign had attracted a record number of applicants.

The meeting was told that 114 Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence would be made functional across the province by Aug 14, while the chief minister set a target of completing 300 such institutions by September.

A detailed briefing informed the meeting that the schools were being developed in accordance with international standards of education. Each class would have a maximum strength of 30 students, with highly qualified teachers, quality education and zero tuition fee for students from underprivileged families.

The meeting was further informed that 10 per cent of seats would be reserved for students whose families could afford to pay the full fee, while no tuition fee would be charged from students whose parents have a monthly income of up to Rs200,000.

Speaking on the occasion, Maryam Nawaz described the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence as an educational revolution in Punjab, saying the exceptional number of applications was clear evidence of restored public trust in government schools.

She said the government aimed to establish Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence in every division, district and tehsil of Punjab, adding that she was encouraged by the enthusiastic participation of students in the admission tests conducted by government schools.

The chief minister said the project was close to her heart and thanked Allah Almighty for its success.

She also appreciated the efforts of Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat and his team for the progress achieved under the initiative.

 CM grieves Nowshera Virkan road accident victims

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious human lives in a collision between a truck and motorcycles in Nowshera Virkan.

She extended her heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for strength and patience for them in bearing the irreparable loss.