Punjab has announced an expansion of its Liquid Tree project, a biotechnology initiative that uses microalgae to absorb carbon dioxide and improve air quality in urban areas. The project, run by the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency, targets locations where traditional tree planting is difficult, such as shopping malls and indoor public spaces. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated that over 100 types of micro-algae have been collected from across Pakistan for the project. The first EPA-certified liquid tree will move from Faisalabad to Lahore as part of the expansion. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to address rising carbon dioxide levels and smog in Pakistani cities through technology-driven solutions. The project's effectiveness will depend on the actual CO2 capture rates and maintenance costs of these bioreactors at scale. While liquid trees offer a novel approach for dense urban environments, they complement rather than replace traditional tree planting and broader emissions reduction policies.
