SAU Plans To Make Tree Plantation a Prerequisite for Degree Issuance
SAU Plans To Make Tree Plantation A Prerequisite For Degree Issuance
Published August 28, 2026 | 05:50 PM
HYDERABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Aug, 2026) Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam is planning to make environmental responsibility a lasting part of student life by linking the issuance of degrees for future students with the plantation and care of at least one tree, Engr Prof Dr Altaf Ali Siyal announced on Friday.
The initiative aims to transform the university into a model "Green Campus" while fostering a culture of environmental stewardship among students at a time when climate change, rising temperatures, water scarcity, and environmental degradation pose significant challenges to Sindh.
According to SAU's spokesperson, this announcement was made during a tree plantation and conservation campaign organized at the university under the theme "Green Pakistan, Green Campus", as part of the university’s Independence Day celebrations on Friday.
While many traditional plantation drives primarily focus on planting new saplings, this campaign also emphasized protecting and nurturing existing trees on campus. Students from the Information Technology Center worked alongside university staff to clear unwanted weeds and bushes around plants in front of the center to ensure their healthy growth.
Dr Altaf Siyal, addressing a brief ceremony, stated that SAU, being an agriculture-focused institution, has a special responsibility to demonstrate leadership in environmental conservation. He noted that while planting a tree is relatively straightforward, nurturing it into maturity requires dedicated care and protection.
The vice chancellor proposed making the plantation and proper care of at least one tree a requirement for future students, potentially linking it to degree issuance. This initiative would instill a sense of ownership and environmental responsibility among students, he said.
"We want our students to leave the university not only with academic degrees but also with a commitment to society and the environment," Dr Siyal emphasized. He highlighted Sindh's vulnerability to climate change, rising temperatures, and water shortages, adding that universities can play a pivotal role in promoting sustainable environmental practices. He encouraged students, faculty, and staff to share responsibility for protecting the university’s trees and green spaces.
As part of the campaign, Dr Siyal, along with deans, faculty members, and administrative officers, planted saplings at the university’s residential colony and Bukhari Model High School. Participants included Dean Dr Inayatullah Rajpar, Dr Syed Ghiasuddin Shah Rashdi, Dr Abdul Mubeen Lodhi, Dr Muhammad Ismail Kumbhar, Dr Abdul Latif Bhutto, and other faculty members and university officers.