PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department has launched a new Miyawaki forest initiative in Peshawar under the Peshawar Revitalization Plan, marking another step towards restoring the city’s green character and improving its urban environment.
The formal inauguration of a Miyawaki forest was held at Pajagi Road, Bashirabad, Peshawar, as part of efforts to increase green spaces across the city and its surrounding areas.
Under the project, Miyawaki forests are being developed over approximately 20 kanals of land in Peshawar’s urban area. A Miyawaki forest covering more than four kanals has also emerged at the intersection of Ring Road, where around 3,500 plants of different species have been planted.
The plantation is expected to develop into a dense urban forest over the coming years, providing additional green cover while contributing to improved environmental conditions in the city.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Local Government, Elections and Rural Development Mina Khan Afridi, who was the chief guest, along with Member of the National Assembly Asif Khan.
Chief Conservator of Forests Region-I Ahmad Jalil, Conservator Forest Shah Hussain, Divisional Forest Officer Peshawar Forest Division Muhammad Shakeel, SDFO Peshawar Forest Division Abdul Sattar, and officers and officials from the Forest and Local Government departments also attended the event.
Addressing the ceremony, Mina Khan Afridi described the initiative as more than a plantation activity, saying it represented a meaningful step towards giving Peshawar a new green identity.
He said the project would support coordinated efforts for plantation in urban and suburban areas, ecological restoration, expansion of green spaces and development of a healthier, more attractive and sustainable urban environment.
He emphasized that Peshawar was not merely a city but a living reflection of history, civilization and culture, and that expanding tree cover, providing shade and improving air quality could make the city more livable for future generations.
Officials said the Miyawaki approach can help establish dense vegetation on relatively small urban plots by planting a diverse range of species close together, supporting the development of compact green spaces.
KP Forest Department spokesperson Latif ur Rehman said the revitalization of Peshawar should go beyond roads and buildings and include efforts to create a city where people can breathe cleaner air, trees can flourish and communities can live in greater harmony with nature.
The Forest Department said the ongoing urban forestry initiatives are aimed at strengthening Peshawar’s green infrastructure and creating healthier and more climate-resilient urban spaces for present and future generations.
