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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/SAgri/45

Green productivity with reference of urban tree plantation: a case study of Rawalpindi
and Islamabad
1Shahzaib Ahmed, 2M. Safeer A. Jafrey*, 3Usman Ahmad

1,3Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad, Pakistan
2Department BinQain Agro Services, Lahore, Pakistan

Correspondence: safeer.jafrey@gmail.com
Abstract

The urbanization and crucial influence of man in the natural setup is causing numerous
difficulties. In the current era of modernization, human activities are disturbing the ecosystem,
like industrialization, emissions of toxic gasses, causing several diseases. To tackle these
problems Green Productivity is a tool to help and maintain a balance between needs and supply
of products or services and maintain the environment. In the current study, two different areas
were selected from the twin cities named: Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi and Bahria Town, Islamabad.
Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi is a dense urban area with less or no trees and vegetation while the
Bahria Town, Islamabad has lush green plantation and Margalla Hills Forest in the vicinity.
This ground reality makes both locations best to justify the concept of green productivity. For
this purpose, total 20 water samples (i.e., 10 from each site with triplication) were collected
and physiochemical properties were analyzed including temperature of water, TDS, pH,
alkalinity, hardness and chloride ion. The results from Bahria Town, Islamabad were
significant (p>0.5) while results from Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi were evidently opposite.
Environmental parameters from past 10 years (2010-2020) including rainfall, maximum
temperature and minimum temperature were analyzed and found increasing trend in
temperature. Moreover, the rainfall pattern was also uncertain. A public survey was conduct in
the study areas to identify the socioeconomic status and to found awareness and interest level
for tree plantation. Interviewees were from diverse background. In the study area of Bahria
Town, Islamabad disease frequency was low, temperature was relatively tolerable, people were
relatively polite, lesser noise pollution and lush green vegetation was found. Furthermore, in
Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi few trees were found, temperature was relatively high, high noise
pollution, people were usually suffering from lungs diseases and asthma etc. people had
relatively rough behavior. However, inhabitants of both study areas showed great interest and
considered dire need for tree planation. The current study proved a prominent distinction about
the impact and need of green productivity via green infrastructure and plantation. Green
productivity has become need of the modern urban planning and sustainable development.
Keywords: Green productivity, green infrastructure, Tree plantation

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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