PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has declared tree plantation in KP compulsory across all government buildings, including offices, hospitals, educational institutions, and official residences. Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur issued the order during the third meeting of the Environment Protection Council held in Peshawar on 13 May 2025.
During the meeting, officials reviewed progress on earlier decisions and discussed new environmental directives. The chief minister’s special assistant on climate change, secretaries of relevant departments, and other council members attended the session.
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CM Directs Urgent Revival of Fruit-Bearing Tree Culture
To ensure effective implementation, Gandapur directed all departments to plant fruit-bearing trees in the upcoming plantation campaign. Moreover, he instructed relevant authorities to issue written orders immediately. He emphasised that this disappearing tradition must return, as these trees support not only human life but also wildlife—particularly birds.
The chief minister assigned the agriculture department the lead role in enforcing this initiative. Furthermore, he urged officials to involve the youth and build a culture around planting and caring for fruit trees. He reaffirmed that tree plantation in KP stands as a core government priority to fight environmental degradation.
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Provincial Council Pushes Green Reforms and Deadlines
In addition to plantation directives, the council reviewed the pace of previously approved actions. Gandapur asked all departments to submit brick kiln data within 15 days to support the transition to zigzag technology. He also demanded reports explaining any delays and urged departments to resolve issues within a month.
Gandapur also assessed progress on regularising unapproved housing societies. Dissatisfied with the current pace, he gave a 15-day deadline for visible improvements and follow-up reports.
Regarding hospital waste, the chief minister instructed health officials to prioritise safe medical waste disposal. He pledged complete provincial support to achieve this goal without further delay.
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In the same meeting, the council approved regulatory guidelines for BTS towers and mini micro-hydropower projects. Additionally, members gave in-principle approval to draft regulations covering 32 sectors that contribute to pollution. To improve execution, they formed three committees—technical, legal, and climate change.
Concluding the session, Gandapur called environmental pollution an escalating crisis. He urged all departments to collaborate under a unified strategy. Most importantly, he stressed that tree plantation in KP remains a practical and urgent step toward building environmental resilience.
