'The tree plantation drive is also in accordance with the government's resolve to rehabilitate mangrove forests of Sindh by all means, in partnership with the provincial forest department, international and national NGOs and the private sector,' the statement said.

The environment ministry has initiated a Rs.13.5 billion forestry sector project in the four provinces, Pakistani Kashmir, the Northern Areas and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) to increase the forest cover by one percent under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. One million hectares of land would be required to achieve this target.

'The fact also remains there that despite planting millions of saplings every year, the forest cover area is stagnant at 4.9 percent over the decades,' the statement said.

'The reasons for this are massive tree cutting and low survival rate of the saplings planted every year,' the statement said, adding that to save the forests and ensure better survival of saplings, the ministry is also reviewing its strategy at all tiers, raising awareness levels and involving all stakeholders.