PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to expand its Afghan border tree plantation projects to include the merged tribal districts. The forest department confirmed that this decision follows directives from the Provincial Defence Planning Committee.
According to an official document, the department will not start or propose any plantation project within ten kilometres of the Afghan border without security clearance. Officials said this rule aims to prevent potential security threats near sensitive border zones.
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The provincial government has empowered a special tree plantation committee to approve and execute projects worth 1.870bn rupees (6.68mn US dollars). The committee’s work focuses solely on plantation-related activities, showing the government’s commitment to improving the environment through organized afforestation.
The document stated that the forest department is finalising large-scale plantation projects in the merged tribal districts and other parts of the province. The Afghan border tree plantation aims to support both environmental sustainability and community resilience.
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A joint committee — including the Ministry of Defence, the Pakistan Army, and representatives from all provinces — will coordinate plantation activities along the Afghan border. The provincial forest departments will align their work to finalise a unified national plan.
Officials said the initiative reflects both environmental and security priorities. The provincial administration wants to promote green cover while ensuring that plantation efforts near the border follow security protocols and federal recommendations.
