Mayor seeks help to protect city from global warming

Mayor Wasim Akhtar has stressed the need for planting more trees to protect Karachi from environmental pollution and global warming.

“This is our city and only we can make it better. Everyone has to plant a tree if we want to make Karachi a greener city,” he said while talking to media representatives after planting a sapling and inaugurating a newly constructed waterfall in Karachi Zoo on Monday.

Akhtar described as topmost priority the removal of encroachments and developing green patches in the metropolis. PTI leader Arif Alvi and renowned playwright Anwer Maqsood also planted saplings in the zoo. Senior director for recreation Mansoor Qazi, senior director for coordination Masood Alam and other officers were also present on this occasion.

The mayor said global warming had been emerging as a main issue for big cities and it was about time the seriousness of the problem was understood and steps that could help minimise air pollution and Karachi better were.

Heaps of garbage were lying on roads and in parks and playgrounds, and the problem had made life difficult for the common citizens, he added. “We want to make the city better and free from environmental pollution and garbage, for which we all need to join hands and work for the betterment. We would welcome the cooperation of other political parties for the betterment and progress of the city.”