National Day for Tree Plantation (August 9, 1975)

Format of stamp is vertical. A healthy young plant is shown at the right hand side of the stamp against a light blue background of sky. At left side of the stamp are shown few stalks of barren trees representing dead trees. In the black colour ground below, a red colour insect is shown eating away the roots of the tree and creep-ing towards the healthy plant ahead. In the bottom blue colour curved panel appears the slogan:
(URDU TEXT) in reverse. The denomination figure ‘20P’ appears at top left side below the green panel in black. The word “postage” also in black appears alongside the left edge of the stamp near the centre. ‘PAKISTAN’ in Urdu and English appears in yellow colour in the top green colour panel. It is a recognised fact that forests play a very significant role in the economy of a country. Apart from providing greenery and beauty to the country-side they provide timber and fuel wood which are so vital for human beings. Trees also provide pulp wood for different kinds of paper and produce raw material for various uses. In addition they influence in controlling floods; stop soil erosion and check the advance of desert in a country. Forests from the ancient times are known to be the harbingers of rains. They also nourish and sustain wildlife—animals and birds. In short the role of forests in enriching a country is so great that it hardly needs any emphasis.
It is estimated that for a balanced economy of a country the trees should cover 20 to 25 % of the area of a country. Pakistan has only 4.5 % area under forest and thus its timber requirements have to be met from foreign imports.
The Government of Pakistan realizing the importance of forests for the country have launched a massive programme of tree plantation every year. As such August 9 is observed every year as National Tree Plantation Day when trees are planted throughout the country in large numbers by different national orga-nisations; Government and Semi-Govern-ment institutions also participate in the programme. In this connection Govern-ment have issued various directives from time to time for tree plantation and for protection and preservation of forest wealth. Arrangements are also made to pro-vide saplings from Government owned nurseries on nominal rates to the people for plantation. The Forest Department in collaboration with the Agricultural Department readily helps the people to get any information required in connection with planting and growing of trees.
An ambitious plan for the plantation of fruit trees like apples, apricots, peaches etc. was undertaken last year by providing fruit saplings to the people at nominal rates. To make the countryside more beautiful, 1500 cherry saplings and 200 budded cuttings of the same species were imported and planted in the country last year; 300 jacaranda saplings, 200 cuttings of red willow, 500 plants of palm trees and 600 maple saplings were also distributed for planting on suitable sites.
The trees require constant care and nourishment after plantation and it is regrettable to observe that tree plantation has not produced very encouraging results so far in the country. The reason for poor result has been their neglect after planting. To achieve positive results, therefore, on the coming National Plantation Day it has to be borne in mind that saplings planted on this day are carefully looked after and nourished properly.
On the National Day for Tree Planta-tion August 9, 1975, Pakistan Post Office is issuing a commemorative stamp to highlight the occasion and to emphasize the importance of conservation of forest wealth in the country.