Punjab to develop biodiversity corridors for climate resilience

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Apr, 2026) The district agencies under the Punjab Horticulture Authority (PHA) will establish dedicated

biodiversity corridors across cities to strengthen climate resilience, improve urban ecosystems

and protect natural habitats, PHA Director General Raja Mansoor Ahmad said on Sunday.

He said biodiversity corridors were strips of vegetation that connect fragmented natural

habitats, allowing wildlife, pollinators and insects to move freely across urban green spaces.

He added that such corridors play an important role in restoring ecological balance in rapidly

expanding cities and were widely recognized as an effective conservation tool.

The DG said that PHA had issued directions to all district horticulture agencies to plant

native tree species, including 'sheesham, shahtoot and bargad', to enhance green cover

and create natural nesting and breeding spaces for local biodiversity. He said the initiative

would also help expand urban forestry and improve environmental sustainability at the local level.

He further said that district agencies would launch landscaping and beautification projects

to develop new green spaces in cities.

As part of these efforts, shady trees would be planted

at bus stops, while public waiting areas would be equipped with water coolers and

solar-powered fans to ensure public convenience and reduce energy costs.

Raja Mansoor Ahmad said that students from schools and colleges would be actively

engaged in climate awareness campaigns to promote environmental responsibility.

He added that educational institutions would also be encouraged to carry out plantation

drives to help reduce their carbon footprint and support green initiatives.

He said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif was committed to tackling smog and broader

air pollution challenges in Punjab, adding that the vision was being implemented through

practical, on-ground environmental measures.

The DG stressed that climate change required urgent and sustained action, saying the

government’s goal was to ensure a cleaner, greener and more livable environment for

future generations.