Pakistani man turns six-marla home into mini forest to fulfil mother's wish

More than a decade after his mother expressed a simple wish for a garden around their home, Mian Asghar Ali has turned their six-marla house in Punjab's Pattoki into a mini forest, with more than 5,700 trees and plants.

The effort began in 2016, when Ali planted his first sapling on the 0.037-acre plot. At the time, he was unsure whether his mother's wish could be realised on such a small parcel of land, and he even tried to convince her that there was not enough space for a garden.

"But seeing her disappointed face gave me the passion to start this. It was in 2016 when I bought about 50 plants, placed 10 inside the house, and 40 along the outer wall. Since then, I have gradually added more," Ali said.

He has since planted trees on doors, walls, curtains and throughout the house. "People used to call me crazy, but today, when they visit and see my small haven, they appreciate my work and view us with respect," he said.

So far, Ali has spent more than PKR 40 lakh on the project and spends over PKR 30,000 every month on maintaining the greenery. The costs cover saplings, soil and tools, as well as the ongoing upkeep needed to keep thousands of plants alive and healthy year-round.

"Since our house went viral, people from far away come to see it. Initially, there wasn't much lighting, but now I have installed lights throughout the house so that day and night feel the same," he said.

Ali said he chose specific plants that thrive in sunlight and are resilient to extreme winter frost, so he does not need to cover them as traditional nurseries do. His daily routine involves spending two to three hours watering and caring for the plants after Fajr prayers.

He now aims to grow 10,000 plants and attempt to set a Guinness World Records title.