Lahore: In a pioneering environmental initiative, Punjab has become the first province in Pakistan to deploy hydroseeding technology to transform barren lands into lush green landscapes,Punjab Govt marking a major step in the combat climate fight against Punjab climate change, soil erosion, and land degradation.
According to a press release issued Sunday, the Punjab Forest Department has successfully trialed hydroseeding in Jallo Park near Lahore.
Using specialized machinery Punjab Govt combat climate the department sprayed a nutrient-rich mixture of seeds, water, and fertilizers over several acres to kickstart rapid vegetation growth.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Abid Gondal, hailed the project as a breakthrough for Pakistan’s environmental restoration efforts.
“Hydroseeding holds immense potential for our province, provided it is implemented scientifically with due consideration to climate, soil composition,
and water resources,” Gondal told Wealth Pakistan.
The technology is particularly effective in areas where traditional planting
fails, such as hilly slopes, eroded lands, and regions with poor soil retention due to rainfall or water flow.
Of Punjab’s 50.7 million acres, about 3.8 million acres remain barren or non-agricultural —
a figure Gondal believes can be reduced with this approach.
Beyond Punjab’s Cholistan and Thal deserts, hydroseeding could be deployed in arid zones like Thar and Balochistan, as well as
in urban greening projects including roadside landscaping and housing developments. Experts say it can also help prevent erosion and speed up environmental rehabilitation.
However, challenges remain. Forestry expert Naseem Butt pointed to water scarcity, lack of specialized equipment, and shortage of trained personnel as key hurdles.
“Rocky or infertile soils may not be suitable for this otherwise highly effective early-growth technology,” he cautioned.
Hydroseeding
Hydroseeding — also known as hydro mulching — was first developed by American engineer Maurice Mandel before being commercially advanced by Charlie Finn.
The method combines seeds, water, fertilizer, organic matter, and soil-enhancing agents into a slurry that can be sprayed evenly across targeted areas.
Globally, it has been successfully adopted in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Japan, and increasingly in Middle Eastern
nations such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have used it to green vast stretches of desert.
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With Punjab’s early success, environmentalists hope Pakistan can now join the ranks of countries
leveraging innovative technology to restore degraded land, boost biodiversity, and mitigate climate change impacts.
