PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Department of Climate Change, Forests, Environment and Wildlife is continuously implementing a comprehensive, scientific, and forward-looking strategy to protect forest resources, clearly determine their legal status, and achieve sustainable solutions to long-standing disputes.
In this context, an important review meeting regarding the re-demarcation of forests was held under the chairmanship of Junaid Khan, Secretary, Department of Climate Change, Forests, Environment and Wildlife. The meeting was attended by Talha Hussain Faisal, Special Secretary; Muhammad Junaid Dyar, Project Director, 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Project; Ahmed Jalil, Chief Conservator Forests, Region One; Shoukat Fayaz, Chief Conservator Forests, Region Two; Asghar Khan, Chief Conservator Forests, Region Three; Khayal Siddique, Officer In-Charge, Survey of Pakistan; along with other senior officers of the Forest Department and the Survey of Pakistan.
Addressing the meeting, Secretary Forests Junaid Khan stated that the Forest Department is fully aware of the fact that forests are not merely a collection of trees, but represent a delicate and comprehensive balance between land, water, atmosphere, and human life. He emphasized that action against encroachments is being carried out within the framework of law, consultation, and respect for human dignity. Where legal complexities exist, efforts will continue to resolve issues with full respect for judicial processes, while in areas requiring financial resources for the installation of boundary pillars, directions have been issued to take prompt and effective measures for securing funds through relevant forums.
The Secretary reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to completing the process of forest boundary determination by taking all relevant institutions, the Revenue Department, district administration, and local communities on board. He noted that this endeavor is not merely about drawing lines on the ground; rather, it is a serious national responsibility aimed at safeguarding natural heritage, ensuring environmental stability, and strengthening the writ of the state. He added that every boundary, every pillar, and every map symbolizes a collective pledge that the land, environment, and future of the province will not be allowed to fade into neglect.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Conservator Forests, Region Two, Shoukat Fayaz informed the meeting that, in collaboration with the Survey of Pakistan, a comprehensive project for the re-demarcation of Reserved Forests has been initiated in various forest divisions associated with the Northern Forest Region-II, Abbottabad (Hazara Forest Region). The objective of this initiative is to delineate forest boundaries in accordance with modern scientific and technical standards and to ensure harmony between official and public records. He further stated that under this project, more than 387,000 acres of forest land in the Haripur, Gallies, Siran, Kaghan, and Agror Tanawal Forest Divisions fall under legal classification, including Reserved and Guzara forests.
Memoranda of Understanding were signed with the Survey of Pakistan at different stages, with financial support provided through national initiatives such as the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Program, the Billion Tree Afforestation Program, and Scientific Forest Management. He added that as a result of re-demarcation, significant progress has been achieved in several forest divisions. In Haripur Forest Division, re-demarcation of approximately 29,000 acres has been completed, along with identification of encroachments and partial retrieval. In Gallies Forest Division, the re-demarcation process has been fully completed, and forest boundaries have been practically secured through the construction and rehabilitation of thousands of boundary pillars. Similarly, thousands of acres of forests in Siran, Kaghan, and Agror Tanawal have also been re-demarcated, making it possible for the first time to scientifically delineate forest boundaries in these areas.
However, he also pointed out that during the implementation of this important national project, several serious challenges have emerged, including discrepancies between forest and revenue records, decades-old encroachments, ongoing litigation, difficulties in accessing remote and rugged mountainous terrain, and delays in the timely release of funds at certain locations, all of which have affected the pace of progress.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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