Some activities remain in our memory not because they are large or expensive, but because they touch something deeper. A recent tree plantation activity in Islamabad, organized by Pak China Investment Company Limited (PCICL) in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority (CDA), was one such experience for me.
As part of PCICL’s CSR initiative and in response to the Government of Pakistan’s call for a greener Pakistan, we organized a plantation drive bringing together our employees, their families and children, along with senior CDA officials, including the Chairman CDA and Member Environment. Our Managing Director, Mr. Song Zhenwen, strongly supported the initiative and personally planted a tree, reflecting the Chinese spirit of environmental responsibility and showing that protecting nature is not merely a CSR activity, but a shared responsibility.
Watching children plant trees alongside their parents gave the activity a deeper meaning. Perhaps years from now, one of them will pass by the same tree with their own children and proudly say, “I planted this tree when I was young.”
At that moment, I realized that the value of such an initiative cannot be measured only by the number of trees planted or the amount spent. Its real value lies in the memories created, the sense of ownership developed and the responsibility passed to the next generation.
Islamabad’s greenery is one of its greatest identities, but it does not happen by itself. Behind its parks, green belts, landscaped roads and natural beauty is the continuous effort of people dedicated to protecting the city’s environment.
I experienced this closely while working with CDA’s Environment Directorate. What appeared to be a simple plantation drive revealed the planning, coordination and dedication behind it. The CDA team’s cooperation made us feel like partners in a shared mission for Islamabad and gave me a deeper appreciation of the Environment Wing’s work.
The vision of Chairman CDA Lt. (Retd.) Sohail Ashraf, along with the efforts of Member Environment Abdullah Khurram Niazi and his team, is strengthening Islamabad’s environmental agenda. The encouragement of Federal Interior Minister Mr. Mohsin Naqvi has also added momentum to the Green Islamabad initiative.
But CDA cannot protect Islamabad’s environment alone. Preserving the city’s greenery is a shared responsibility of government, citizens, communities, institutions and the corporate sector.
CSR should therefore go beyond charitable activities. Environmental responsibility deserves an equal place. A tree planted today may benefit someone we may never know tomorrow. It is an investment in a future we may not see, but our children will inherit.
China offers an important lesson in this regard. Its long-term commitment to afforestation, urban greening and ecological restoration shows that environmental protection must be continuous, not limited to one-day campaigns. Pakistan need not copy China, but we can learn from its consistency and commitment.
More companies should come forward, work with CDA, adopt green areas, support parks and involve their employees and families. Most importantly, they should take responsibility for the trees they plant.
For me, this was much more than a CSR activity. It was a reminder that we have inherited a green Islamabad and are now its custodians.
The true measure of our responsibility is not what we take from the city today, but what we leave for those who will call it home tomorrow.
The Write is Divisional Head Administration in Pak China Investment Company Limited.
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