RUDA and Punjab Forest Department 150-acre Plantation Drive Lahore

LAHORE – To combat the city’s escalating environmental issues, the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA) has inked an agreement with the Punjab Forest Department. The accord paves the way for a massive plantation drive covering 150 acres at the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway (LSM) loops and extending across 15 kilometers of roadside.

The finalization of the Terms of Reference (TORs) took place in a high level meeting attended by Mr. Abdul Waheed Khan, RUDA’s Executive Director of Engineering, alongside senior officials. This partnership signals a shift toward aggressive urban forestry as Lahore grapples with record-breaking smog and dwindling green cover.

Restoring the “Lungs” of the City

The initiative is set to plant approximately 150,000 trees into the local ecosystem. This surge in greenery is a direct response to the “urban sprawl” that has historically stripped Lahore of its natural buffers, contributing to the persistent smog that paralyses the city every winter.

Ms. Nadia Tahir, Director for Green Initiatives and Environment Directorate at RUDA, emphasized that this is more than just a landscaping project—it is a survival strategy.

“Investing in the future, RUDA is reshaping Lahore through a steadfast commitment to sustainability,” Tahir stated. “Our investment model proves that urban growth and environmental preservation can thrive together.”

Unlike traditional projects that prioritise concrete over climate, RUDA has committed to a visionary sustainable urban planning model. Within Ravi City, the authority is strictly enforcing a 30% green area mandate. This “green lung” policy is designed to safeguard the respiratory health of future generations against the backdrop of global warming.

Evidence of this sustainable approach is already visible in RUDA’s Chahar Bagh projects, which serve as a pilot for modern, eco-friendly urban living where greenery is integrated into the structural fabric of the community.

Aligning with the Provincial Vision of CM Punjab

The timing of the project is no coincidence. As spring approaches, the plantation drive aligns with the broader environmental vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif. By finalising arrangements ahead of the planting season, RUDA and the Forest Department aim to maximize the survival rate of the saplings and ensure a visible “green revolution” across Lahore’s infrastructure.