Punjab Unveils Rs. 8 Billion Forest Restoration and Tree Plantation Initiative

The Punjab government has announced a large-scale environmental initiative for 2026, allocating Rs. 8 billion for forest restoration, afforestation, and conservation projects across the province.

According to officials, the program aims to plant 31 million saplings during the upcoming monsoon season as part of ongoing efforts to increase green cover, improve air quality, and support climate resilience.

Under the plan, the Punjab Forest Department will restore forests across 7,000 acres in southern Punjab while carrying out afforestation and rehabilitation projects in multiple districts.

As part of the “Plant for Punjab” campaign, authorities also plan to establish 350 urban mini forests and develop 200 new public parks. The initiative is intended to expand green spaces in urban areas, enhance environmental quality, and help address the effects of rising temperatures.

Special focus will be given to the Rawalpindi Division, including the hilly tehsils of Murree, Kotli Sattian, Kahuta, and Kallar Syedan, where forest cover is expected to be expanded through new plantation drives.

Officials said uncultivated and barren land in these regions will be converted into forested areas to promote biodiversity, protect natural ecosystems, and strengthen watershed conservation.

The program also includes forestry development in Attock, Chakwal, and Jhelum, where work will focus on expanding protected forests and improving green areas surrounding national parks.

To enhance forest management, the Punjab Forest Department has established a dedicated forest protection force and introduced the province’s first Digital Forest Inventory System, designed to support modern mapping, monitoring, and sustainable management of forest resources.