One hundred female students at Akhuwat College Chakwal (Murid Campus) planted 100 olive saplings in a single minute as part of a youth-led olive plantation drive organised with support from CEFORT to bolster the Potohar Transformation Project and promote environmental sustainability.
Organisers said the rapid planting was both symbolic and practical, intended to raise awareness about olive plantation among young people while encouraging cultivation that can strengthen the regional economy. The activity highlighted youth engagement and community service as key elements of local conservation efforts.
Dr Ramzan Ansar, director of the Barani Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), said the event forms part of a broader provincial initiative launched by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to expand olive farming across the Potohar region. He noted that under the programme, students from various schools are expected to plant around 2,000 olive saplings across the area, with BARI providing facilitation to cultivate interest and increase production.
Dr Ansar added that the Potohar region’s soil and climate are well suited to olive cultivation and that rising interest among rural women is likely to improve both profitability and sustainability of olive production in coming years. He urged schools in Chakwal to coordinate with CEFORT, which will provide saplings free of cost along with technical assistance for plantation.
The event at Akhuwat College was attended by teachers, students and CEFORT representatives, who described tree plantation as a vital step against climate change. Participants pledged to expand the olive plantation campaign to other educational institutions across the district, making the youth-led initiative a wider community effort.
