PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday planted over one million saplings simultaneously at over 250 locations across the province as it kicked off the ‘Ehsaas Shajar’ campaign.

Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi opened the drive by planting a sapling at the KP House in Islamabad, under the Clean and Green Pakistan vision of former prime minister Imran Khan, according to a statement issued from the chief minister’s secretariat.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Afridi reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to environmental protection, climate resilience, and safeguarding the future of the coming generations through sustained and practical interventions.

The chief minister emphasised that in light of escalating environmental challenges, promotion and protection of forests had become imperative, leaving no room for complacency.

CM says his govt committed to environmental protection, climate resilience

He termed the initiative a historic and record-setting plantation drive, noting that a target of one million saplings had been set at the government level within a single day, alongside strong public participation across the province.

He said that, as a result of sustained efforts by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government, the forest cover in KP had witnessed a significant increase, and underscored the need for a holistic approach, calling upon all segments of society to actively contribute to this national cause.

Mr Afridi urged the public to participate fully in the plantation campaign to help ensure a safe, green, and sustainable environment for future generations.

During a briefing on the occasion, the chief minister was informed that plantation activities were being carried out simultaneously at 285 locations across the province, with all operational arrangements finalised in advance.

A modern web portal and centralised control system have been put in place for effective monitoring of the campaign, while a central control room has also been established within the forest department to enable real-time monitoring of activities.

It was further shared that citizens were encouraged to plant saplings in their respective areas and upload images and videos of their activities on the web portal to amplify collective impact and community engagement.

“The provincial government remains committed to sustaining the momentum of this initiative and has set an additional target of planting 1.4 million saplings on August 14 to further scale up afforestation efforts and ensure a greener and more resilient environment,” the statement quoted the chief minister as saying.

Project Director Upscaling Green Pakistan Programme Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mohammad Junaid Dayar told Dawn that their target was to plant 1.075 million saplings in connection with Pakistan Day as per the directives of the chief minister, adding they surpassed the target by planting 1.123 million saplings across the province.

He said that an app was developed with the technical support of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IT Board to monitor the progress on the plantation drive, track locations and the number of plants and ensure accountability and long-term impact.

In Bajaur, the agriculture department’s local office said on Monday it had planted thousands of trees during the campaign, which was inaugurated by deputy commissioner Shahid Ali, who planted a sapling at the DC compound in Civil Colony, Khar.

In Dera Ismail Khan, authorities said a target of planting 5,300 saplings for the day had been achieved.

Officials described the initiative as part of broader efforts to promote environmental sustainability and address climate change. Citizens have been encouraged to share photos and videos of their plantation activities through the campaign’s official online platform.

In Battagram, adviser to the chief minister on sports and youth affairs Taj Mohammad Khan Trand planted a sapling on the lawns of Government Degree College, Chappargram, to inaugurate the plantation drive.

In Lower Dir, the plantation drive was launched across the district with officials, institutions and emergency services taking part in tree-planting activities at multiple locations.

In Bannu, MNA Maulana Syed Naseem Ali Shah launched the ‘Ehsaas Shajar’ campaign by planting a sapling at a madressah in Ghorriwala area.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2026