PESHAWAR, Nov 26: The federal government is working on a comprehensive plan for upgradation of the Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI) to degree-awarding institution in order to conduct research and impart quality education and training to youth in forestry sciences on modern lines.

Addressing the inaugural-session of a daylong national seminar on upgradation of PFI to the Degree-Awarding Institute (DAI), Federal Minister for Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi said that Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar was national institution and would be upgraded to degree-awarding institution after working out all the modalities.

He said the plan was in keeping with the rich contribution in forestry sciences at national and international level by the PFI, and part of government's initiatives to prepare scholars and students on scientific lines to ward-off the effects of mounting challenges of climatic change, desertification, environmental degradation and other relevant issues.

The federal minister said when he took over, different proposals including upgradation of PFI to the status of Forest University or making it a Centre of Excellence, came up, however, in order to retain its old grandeur and prestige, the government decided to hold a national seminar with forestry and environmental experts here to present recommendations for upgrading of the country's lonely forestry institute established in 1947.

The PFI had attracted foreign students besides imparting training to commission nominees of four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK over the years due to its high standard and valuable contributions, he said, adding, time was not far away when foreign students will again come to PFI.

The library of PFI was being computerised so that students in country and even abroad could take full advantage of it. Special focus was being made on bolstering research activities in PFI, the minister said. He said it was unfortunate that due to lack of funds, research sector was overlooked in the past and the present government was giving special focus to this important sector to address common problems locally. Mr Afridi said capacity-building of faculty and encouragement of talented students was top priorities of the government.

Later, talking to reporters the federal minister for environment said the militancy had badly affected forest sector in Malakand Division and also delayed implementation process of Rs13 billion mega Carbon Sequestration Project in the country.—APP