Over the past decade, Siraiki Wasaib’s only metropolitan, Multan has witnessed a steady rise in extreme heat. Yet despite repeated tree plantation drives by the district administration, poor maintenance and lack of protection for planted saplings have rendered these campaigns largely ineffective. Meanwhile, timber mafias continue to sell old trees, stripping the city of its already limited green cover. Experts state that the success or failure of any plantation drive cannot be judged solely by the number of saplings planted; it must also consider the protection mechanisms in place and the survival rate of the saplings. The district administration claims that under the Punjab Chief Minister’s “Green Punjab” campaign, 123,000 saplings were planted. However, the ground reality tells a different story. The city’s green cover stands at just 1.2 percent—a worrying figure for a population of 5.4 million.
Environmental activist and expert Ali Hassan believes, “Planting trees is not enough, the real work is in taking care of them. Unless we protect the existing old trees, we will not be able to control climate change.” Pointing towards the old tree located at Allama Iqbal Park, he said that imported plant varieties have led to a decline in local bird population. Citing a research by Cornell University’s lab of Ornithology, Hassan said that there has been a steep decline of 30% in bird’s population. Pakistani Bureaucracy to woo their superiors install imported seedlings that are harmful for the flora and fauna of this region’s delicate natural balance. For Multan to regain lost Green Spaces, it needs to follow local and indigenous formulas still promulgated in Jhok Wains Village of Multan.
Despite official claims of taking action against illegal tree cutting by the Multan Environment Department, reality paints a starkly different picture. Every night trucks loaded with freshly cut trees enter the city from various areas, without any visible crackdown. Time and again, Multan’s Civil Society has raised their voices against illegal logging and devastation of Mango Orchards by the Real Estate industry. Asad Hashmi a resident of Hussain Abad, deplores the substandard maintenance of remaining green spaces in Multan. He said “There is no plantation happening anywhere in Multan. I have traveled across the city and seen none. The heat is rising rapidly, and green spaces are already scarce. With temperatures increasing, both the public and the government must work together for plantation drives.”
Environmental experts emphasize that old and mature trees are essential for absorbing carbon dioxide and other harmful gases, enhancing air quality, and regulating temperature. Qurban Mahay, a resident of Jhok Wains and an environmentalist, mentions that the small village of Jhok Wains, located an hour’s drive from the city center, is home to an orchard that spans hundreds of acres. The stark difference in temperature between Jhok Wains and a real estate conglomerate asset in Multan is staggering.Jhok Wains is approximately 10 degrees Celsius cooler than a Private Housing Society located 15 kilometers away, which was built on the remnants of the last few mango orchards in the city’s area. He further states that Multan witnessed high smog pollution last year due to malpractices employed by Real Estate mafia. Multan has never experienced 2500 particulate matter per cubic meter, but this milestone was achieved after murdering dense orchards that not only provided respite to the environment but was a source of export dollars for the community. He stresses for an Empowered Environment Protection Agency in Multan, which tackles such climate catastrophes.
An employee of the Environment Protection Agency in Multan, speaking on the condition of anonymity, shared an incident with the writer. During a raid on a highly polluting factory owned by a political mogul, the employee supervised the sealing of the facility. Following this action, he was transferred from his position for allegedly causing distress to the factory owner. The officer noted that the factory emitted sulfuric acid and was located near small agricultural holdings, where more than nine hundred people lived and cultivated the 150 acres of land adjacent to the polluting factory. Farmers protested against the factory for crop losses and demanded relocation of the factory. Their plea remains unheard. Lives and Livelihoods of Farmers are at mercy of a factory owner who refuses to follow the Rule of law. Such impunity demands exemplary reforms and enforcement without political infestations on official duties.
The challenges persist, but the climate crisis continues to escalate and does not adhere to the constraints of bureaucratic hurdles or political willingness. Until new, healthy trees are planted, illegal logging is halted, and city and district authorities collaborate effectively, the dream of a “Green Punjab” will remain nothing more than a political slogan.