PESHAWAR: Medicinal plants’ experts have termed the development of non-timber forest products (NTFP) sector as alternative resource of livelihood for forest communities and a tool to minimise environmental impact of climate change associated with timber extraction and deforestation.
They demanded of the government to establish a herbal market in the provincial capital to provide a platform to the local NTFP’s collectors to sale their medicinal plants which will not only stop the locals’ exploitation and will benefit them to the maximum.
The experts expressed these views at a workshop with a theme “From Forest to Market: Valorisation of NTFPs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”, which was organised by the Directorate of NTFP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Director NTFP Rashid Hussain, deputy director Osaidullah, Dr Ikramur Rahman, specialist on species survival, sustainable use, management and conservation, General Manager Hamdard Laboritories (Waqf) Pakistan Peshawar Mian Anwar Syed, deputy general manager Agri Business Qarshi industries Pvt ltd Muhammad Rashid, chief of NTFP Panjab Dr Muhammad Farooq Bhatti, Director Research and Development Syed Hasnain Abbas, officers of the forest department and NTFP’s traders were also in attendance.
Workshop highlights importance of non-timber forest products
Speaking at the workshop, Director NTFP Rashid Hussain briefed the participants about the initiatives of the forest department including conservation and development of NTFP in KP, current status of medicinal and aromatic plants, gaps in conservation, value chain and market linkages.
Dr Ikramur Rahman said that NTFPs encompasses all biological materials other than timber which were extracted from forests and wooded land, which include products used as food and food additives like edible nuts, mushrooms, fruits, herbs, spices and condiments, aromatic plants, gums, fibers, resins, leaves and plant and animal products used for medicinal, cosmetic or cultural purpose for human use.
He said that sustainable use of this resource needs policy interventions at gross roots level to enable the communities to understand its use, rational collection on scientific methods, post collection processing, product development, market linkages, organic certification and exploration of national and international markets.
This traditional approach towards the use of NTFPs needs value chain assistance of local communities for development of value added products to attain maximum economic benefit.
Established value chain in NTFPs sector in India and Nepal has proven to divert the communities from forest cutting for timber, habitat destruction and species loss. Appropriate use of NTFPs and entrepreneurship development in this sector can emerge as alternative source of income which will improve the earnings of marginalised and vulnerable forested communities, he said.
During the interactive session, the General Manager Hamdard Laboratories (waqf) Pakistan Factory Peshawar shared that Hakim Muhammad Saeed Shaheed had initiated the mission for cultivation of medicinal plants and utilixation of quality herbs in Hamdard products in 1990.
In continuation of this vision, Hamdard has established herbal gardens in Karachi and invited foreign horticulture experts including Dr Salwa and Dr Hans from Germany for development of medicinal plant cultivation systems.
In continuation of the same vision, he said that Hamdard was ready to establish strategic linkages with the NTFP institutions and farmers for sustainable procurement of quality medicinal herbs.
Conservator Forest Malakand East Circle Abid Mumtaz said that lives of the locals have been linked with the medicinal plants, and now the medicinal plants were deemed more valuable than timber.
Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2026