LAHORE: (Friday, January 23, 2026): To compensate for 40 trees that were illegally cut at Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre, Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Ali has announced the plantation of 10,000 new trees across the campus. On Friday, he inaugurated the tree plantation drive by planting a guava tree at Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre. On this occasion, Pro Vice Chancellor Dr. Khalid Mahmood, newly appointed acting director Professor Dr. Samina Sadia, Director General Dr. Rehan Sadiq, Resident Officer-II Dr. Abdul Majid Khan, and other officials were present. The Vice Chancellor and other administrative officers planted 180 guava trees in the ground of Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre. Dr. Muhammad Ali also directed that more than 1,000 trees of various species be planted in the ground of the centre in the coming days. While speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Dr. Muhammad Ali said that the illegal cutting of trees is deeply regrettable and that it is a loss which cannot be immediately compensated. He issued strict instructions to the concerned officers to ensure special care and protection of the newly planted trees. He said the administration will ensure at all costs that not a single tree is cut without approval from the relevant authorities. He added that Punjab University is called the “lungs of Lahore,” and this year the university pledges to plant 10,000 new trees as part of its tree plantation campaign.