BTAP engages thousands of jobless labourers during COVID-19 lockdown.

PESHAWAR -- Billions Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP), a flagship programme of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) government in green sector has been proved an oasis for thousands of jobless labourers and daily wagers to earn better livelihoods for their families during the testing times of COVID-19 lockdown.

Approximately, 66,291 jobless workers were provided green jobs in 10BTAP after they lost employment due to closure of industrial units, public transport, hotels, SMEs, tourism, mines, mineral, construction and other sectors during the nearly two months lockdown in the country.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, around 22,000 green jobs were provided to labourers and daily wagers, 17,391 in Punjab, 3,500 in Balochistan, 11,900 in Sindh, 3,000 in Gilgit Baltistan and 8500 in Azad Kashmir.

Talking to reporter, Project Director, Muhammad Tehmasip said, "Following decisions of the Federal and KP Governments to create jobs opportunities for the COVID-19 lockdown affected workforce in green sector, the KP Forest Department has taken a lead role by providing jobs to around 22,000 unemployed workers in its nurseries, forests enclosures and afforestation programs".

These labourers were given jobs in tube and bare-rooted nurseries, forests enclosures, watering new plantations, mobalization of public for afforestation, spring plantation and protection of jungles programs. Each labourer was being paid Rs15,000 per month and Rs1,50,000 per year, he said.

"We are strictly following the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) notified by the Government against COVID-19 to ensure the safety of labourers at workplaces besides provision of masks and maintaining social distancing," he said.

"Globally, these jobs are called 'green jobs' because it reduces pressure on forest and wildlife resources, ensure economic empowerment of communities, combate climate change and keep economy running during emergencies such as COVID-19 lockdown," Tehmasip said.

"These labourers and daily wagers were hired to quickly achieve spring plantation target of 100 million saplings by June 30, 2020." Till date, he said 90 million saplings were planted during spring season and remaining 10 million would be sown by June next with assistance of national building departments, farmers, volunteers, students and general public.

"The spring plantation was smoothly underway in KP as no adverse effects of coronavirus has been witnessed on 10BTAP rather afforestation campaign was expedited due to easy...