Historic Meeting With Civil Society: Peshawar Moves Toward Urban Afforestation

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Jul, 2025) In a significant move toward sustainable urban transformation, environmental experts, policymakers, and civil society representatives gathered in Peshawar to deliberate on Urban Afforestation and Biodiversity Conservation in Peshawar, a step aimed at reclaiming the city’s lost identity as the “City of Flowers.”

The session was co-chaired by Special Assistant to CM, M Muhammad Asim Khan and Shahzad Arbab chairman SCN.

“It is significant that this was a historic interaction with the government, the first of its kind, bringing together a galaxy of seasoned luminaries to focus on the long-neglected subject of urban afforestation in Peshawar. Since long a growing gap was being felt between the government and the civil society ” said a participant.

The consultative meeting, held at in Hayatabad, was organised by the Sustainable Conservation Network (SCN) with support from the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP).

The session was moderated and facilitated by Dr Khalid Khan, a climate change expert and SCN member, who guided the discussions with focus and clarity.

In his opening remarks,Masud Ul Mulk, CEO of SRSP, reaffirmed institutional commitment, stating, “SRSP has survived 35 years of challenges and we’re ready to support this initiative.”

Shahzad Arbab noted that existing development plans already provide a strong foundation. “We already have solid plans,” he said.

“To move them forward, we need stronger ownership and coordination from within government institutions for implementation.” He also suggested making use of underutilized public spaces such as Pakistan Railways’ land for plantation projects and proposed improvements in governance.

“Since the highest authority of KP is engaged with other pressing governance issues, development & environmental issues do not receive the attention it deserves. Therefore, there is an urgent need for structural changes in the hierarchy of command” he said.

Concluding the session, Muhammad Asim Khan assured full government support for the initiative.

“Civil society should come up with a realistic action plan, and I will personally see that it is implemented to turn Peshawar back into the proverbial City of Flowers.” He affirmed.

The meeting featured thematic presentations from various experts.

Tariq Shah discussed eco-sensitive urban development strategies, while Azhar Ali outlined a vision for greening KP’s cities through environmental assessments and practical local planning.

Nusrat emphasized the importance of green building designs, sustainable materials, and vertical expansion to manage space more efficiently.

“Green building is essential for long-term climate resilience,” she noted.

Adeel Saeed from APP highlighted the vital role of media in spreading environmental awareness and engaging the public on green initiatives.

An expert panel comprising legendary Names of pioneers in their fields like Mr. Muhammad Rafiq, Prof. Dr. Shafiq ur Rehman, and Mr. Arshad Samad shared valuable recommendations for making urban afforestation part of long-term development plans in KP.

Fazal Ghafoor, representing the Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), highlighted the need for inclusive planning. He stressed that community involvement is key to the success and accountability of such environmental projects.

Participants also raised key concerns such as the lack of proper urban laws, poorly designed drainage systems, and traffic congestion that undermines public transport. Experts stressed the need for better building codes, land-use rules, and policies to reduce plastic waste and protect open spaces from uncontrolled development.

They recommended creating special zones for plantations, especially using local and fruit-bearing trees, with proper care and maintenance plans lasting at least three years to help the trees survive. They also called for eco-friendly construction, reduced plastic use, and better waste management systems in cities.

Governance issues remained a major focus. Speakers pointed out the need for capacity building in both local and provincial government departments, better coordination among institutions, and using existing systems more effectively instead of creating new ones. They agreed that identifying the real causes of environmental decline must come before any long-term solutions.

The meeting ended on a hopeful note, with a shared sense of purpose: *the time to green KP’s cities through urban afforestation is now.