The Sophia Mahmood Ali Foundation has donated as many as 40,000 indigenous
plants to the Government College University Lahore Horticulture Society to
beautify the university's 370 acres new campus at Kala Shah Kaku.
The donation is made in the memory of Sophia alias Gulae, a beautiful girl
who loves plants and roses, but she unfortunately lost her life at the age
of 24. Dr. Ajaz and Mrs Shazia Ajaz, the Gulae's parents, made this
donation of plants to GCU.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi inaugurated the month-long mega
plantation drive on Thursday at the University's new campus where he along
with faculty members and students of Botany Department, Sustainable
Development Study Center and Chemistry Department planted the donated
plants of Moringa, Neem (Azadirachta indica), Suhajna, Rose, Gauva and
Sheesham.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Zaidi announced establishing Gulae's Rose
Garden at GCU KSK campus in the memory of Sophia Mehmood, saying GCU
Horticulture Society had initiated the biggest ever plantation drive in the
history of any university. He also announced a nursery, Guava Garden, Urban
forestry section, Moringa pavilion and Neem Boulevard at its new campus.
Prof. Zaidi said this mega planation drive would have a huge positive
impact on the environment of whole Kala Shah Kaku and Shiekhpura area. He
expressed gratitude to GCU Horticultural Society members and their advisor
Dr. Zaheer-ud-Din Khan for their tireless efforts for this mega planation
drive that would completely change the landscape.
Ms. Saliha Leghari, a board member of Sophia Mahmood Ali (SMA) Foundation,
told students that the Gulae was a vibrant and loving human being, and her
prents would like to keep her memory alive through this foundation. She
said that trees are of invaluable importance to their environment and to
human well-being; they give us clean air to breathe, shade and food.
Dr. Zaheer-ud-Din Khan expressed gratitude to the parents of Sophia alias
Gulae for their beautiful donation of 40,000 plants.
District Forest Officer Muhammad Saleem, Chief Conservative Forest Officer
Faisal Haroon and eminent botanist Syed Ajmal Rahim also attended the
inauguration of one-month plantation drive.