The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department planted 1.36 million saplings across the province as part of a Defence Day plantation campaign, exceeding its initial target of one million trees.
Project Director Billion Trees Afforestation Support Project (BTASP) Mohammad Junaid Dayar told Dawn that the plantation drive was carried out with the support of other government departments and volunteers at 196 sites across the province.
The campaign comprised both departmental plantations and free distribution of saplings. Forest Department employees planted 813,881 saplings at 29 sites, while communities planted another 555,577 saplings at 167 locations.
According to Mr Dayar, the campaign featured 96 plantation events aimed at restoring forests, increasing tree cover and encouraging greater community participation.
He said the department had also planted 1.73 million saplings on the previous Independence Day with the participation of students, teachers and other sections of society. In addition, 1.4 million saplings were sown on March 23 as part of Pakistan Day activities.
In Peshawar, the central forest division achieved its target of planting more than 50,000 saplings of various species in the Spinkhak area on Sunday.
The plantation campaign was supervised by Divisional Forest Officer Mohammad Shakeel and Assistant Divisional Forest Officer Abdul Sattar.
Speaking at the event, DFO Shakeel said the plantation would help improve environmental conditions in Peshawar and surrounding areas by increasing green cover, reducing air pollution, moderating temperatures and supporting ecological balance.
He said Defence Day was also an opportunity to recognise that protecting the country extended beyond its borders to preserving natural resources and safeguarding the environment for future generations.
Mr Shakeel highlighted climate change, rising temperatures, air pollution, water scarcity and the degradation of natural ecosystems as major challenges facing Pakistan, saying they required sustained collective efforts.
He urged citizens to plant trees and take responsibility for their upkeep, stressing that individual efforts could contribute to a healthier environment and provide long-term benefits for future generations.
He described the Spinkhak plantation as an environmental initiative dedicated to the country’s martyrs and a commitment to preserving Pakistan’s natural environment.
