PESHAWAR – The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has introduced a landmark initiative in line with Imran Khan’s environmental vision, releasing herds of deer into the forests of Kohat as part of a broader project for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wildlife restoration.
The effort, which uses drone technology for monitoring, marks the province as the first in Pakistan to formally launch a wildlife restoration programme after the Billion Tree Tsunami.
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Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Dr Muhammad Ali Saif, announced that the project aims to revive ecosystems damaged over decades of deforestation and neglect. “The Billion Tree Tsunami showed that conservation could succeed in Pakistan. Now, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wildlife restoration is proving that forests can again become safe havens for endangered species,” he said.
The provincial government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, has tied this programme directly to the long-term outcomes of the tree plantation drive launched in 2014. Officials and local communities are monitoring the released deer through both field presence and drone surveillance, creating a rare model of high-tech conservation in the country.
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Wildlife experts describe the step as “revolutionary” for Pakistan’s environmental policy. By reviving habitats in Kohat, the project intends to attract not only deer but also other species that had disappeared from the region. Barrister Saif emphasised that the return of wildlife is the most visible proof of the ecological dividends of the Billion Tree Tsunami, calling it “a milestone in rebalancing the ecosystem.”
The government’s narrative frames Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wildlife restoration as a continuation of a decade-long environmental agenda. After years of climate-related challenges, the project signals a political commitment to link forest expansion with wildlife protection. Officials argue that restoring animals to their natural habitats is not just symbolic but crucial for ecological balance, rural livelihoods, and sustainable progress.
As drones hover over Kohat’s forests, capturing images of deer adjusting to their new surroundings, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa positions itself as a testing ground for how political vision, technology, and conservation can align. Whether the programme scales into a national model remains to be seen, but for now, the province has claimed the distinction of leading Pakistan into a new phase of ecological recovery.
