Punjab bans tree cutting, mandates 20 saplings per tree: Bilal Yasin

Lahore: The Punjab government has imposed a complete ban on tree cutting across the province as part of strengthened environmental protection measures. Provincial Housing Minister Bilal Yasin announced that if tree removal becomes unavoidable, authorities will require plantation of at least 20 saplings against each tree, along with mandatory monitoring for a period of three years. The decision was taken during the first board meeting of the Punjab Horticulture Authority, where officials reviewed policy proposals, financial frameworks, and operational strategies. A digital monitoring system, including geo-tagging and a dedicated application, will be introduced to track tree data. Strict SOPs will be enforced in all development projects to ensure sustainability, transparency, and long-term urban environmental balance.