Hundreds of male and female students, teachers and university officials enthusiastically participated in a plantation drive at the Latif and Sachal Boys Hostels of the University of Sindh, Jamshoro, on Friday, planting around 500 indigenous saplings and pledging to nurture them until they grow into healthy trees.

The drive was jointly organized by the Department of Geography, Green Youth Movement (GYM) and the Provost Office. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Fateh Muhammad Marri (Tamgha-i-Imtiaz) inaugurated the campaign by planting a sapling at the main gate of the newly handed-over hostels.

The students took an active part in planting the saplings and expressed their commitment to personally look after them, particularly during the hot and dry weather, so that they could survive and contribute to a greener campus and a healthier environment.

Addressing the gathering, VC Dr Marri congratulated the Department of Geography, GYM and the Provost Office for organising the campaign. He said every student should plant at least one sapling either at the university or in their hometowns, particularly during the monsoon season and on Independence Day.

He stressed that planting a sapling was only the beginning and that its real benefit could be achieved only by caring for it until it matured into a tree. He said the hostel administration, Department of Geography and Green Youth Movement would be responsible for ensuring the survival and proper growth of the saplings planted during the campaign.

The vice-chancellor said the Blocks Hostel would soon be renovated and restored for students. He reminded students that their parents entrusted them to the university for education and personal development and urged them to repay their parents’ trust by working hard and achieving excellence.

He also announced that Rs50.25 million would be distributed among more than 1,100 deserving students on Monday. He encouraged students to establish academic and co-curricular societies, including science, music, zoological, botnical and art societies as well as study circles and said those who initiated such societies would be remembered as their pioneers in the years ahead.

Highlighting the achievements of university students, Dr Marri said a student of the Dr N.A. Baloch Model School had secured second position in the Hyderabad Board, while a Sindh University student had clinched first position in an HEC competition in which around 34,000 students from Universities across Pakistan participated.

Environmental expert Nasir Ali Panhwar said some Universities in the Philippines had linked the award of degrees with students’ commitment to planting saplings. He said trees required continuous care just as children did and urged students to nurture the saplings with patience and dedication.

He said the students who planted the trees today would not only enjoy their shade in the future but would also take pride in having contributed to environmental protection. He added that collective efforts by young people could play an important role in combating climate change and restoring the natural environment.

Divisional Forest Officer Imran Bhutto said he had donated 500 indigenous saplings to the University of Sindh and urged students to protect and care for them until they developed into mature trees.

Dr Arfana Mallah said climate change was a major challenge that required sustained and practical efforts. She said the university had planted around 10,000 saplings over a period of time. “Planting saplings is not a big deal, but taking care of them like children is the real challenge,” she said, adding that students staying in the hostels for four years should take responsibility for the plants around them.

The inaugural ceremony was compered by Muhammad Ali Ghanghro, who further energised the students by reciting soulful and heart-touching poetry, creating an enthusiastic atmosphere during the plantation activity.

Pro Vice-Chancellor Main Campus Prof Dr Abdul Sattar Shah, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dadu Campus Prof Dr Anila Naz Soomro, Registrar Sajid Qayoom Memon, deans of various faculties, directors of institutes, chairpersons of departments, academic and administrative heads, teachers, officers, employees and a large number of male and female students attended the event.