Safari park in Ghari Chandhan proposed

Express Tribune

02-03-2025

Special Assistant to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Forests, Environment, Wildlife, and Climate Change, Pir Musavir Khan, has proposed declaring the Ghari Chandan Plantation as a safari park to promote wildlife.
He visited Gharri Chandan in Peshawar on Sunday.
During his visit, he reviewed the species planted under the Billion Tree Plantation Project. Chairman DDAC Peshawar, Sher Ali Afridi, Conservator forest, other officers of forest department and local residents were also present on the occasion.
While briefing the Special Assistant about the Ghari Chandan Plantation, it was shared that approximately 2,400 hectares of land had been afforested, contributing to a seven per cent increase in the province's forest area.
During the visit, the Special Assistant also met with the landowners of Ghari Chandan, who shared their demands, concerns, and issues.
Pir Musavir Khan informed the landowners that a project for nine solar-powered tube wells in the Gharri Chandan and surrounding areas had been included in the Annual Development Program.
Speaking about the trees in Gharri Chandan, SACM said that 30 per cent of the area had been planted with eucalyptus trees, and a survey was being conducted for their harvesting.
The revenue generated from this would be shared, with 80 per cent going to the landowners. Additionally, he proposed declaring Gharri Chandan as a safari park. This would not only ensure the protection of wildlife but also provide employment opportunities to local residents.
Regarding the salaries of the Neguhban Force in Gharri Chandan, he assured that the salaries for January and February would be paid soon.
Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has launched an ambitious spring plantation drive to fight deforestation, reduce air pollution, and tackle the region's mounting climate change challenges.
The campaign, which spans from Chitral to DI Khan and Kohistan to Waziristan, aims to plant 2.6 million saplings throughout the province.
The afforestation campaign was also carried out in all seven tribal districts where elders, farmers and religious scholars were involved.
Musawar Khan, the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Environment and Forests, said that the initiative will plant a range of tree species, including both regular and fruit-bearing varieties in K-P.
He told media that l Central-Southern Forest Region will see the planting of 892,000 saplings, while the Northern Forest Region will receive over a million—1,057,000 saplings.
Additionally, the Forest Department will directly plant 560,000 saplings across the province.
In Peshawar, 82,544 saplings will be planted along with 480,000 seasonal plants, which will be planted twice a year.
Key areas targeted for plantation include Hayatabad, Regi Model Town, GT Road, Jamrud Road, Ring Road, Motorway, and Northern Bypass.
The initiative also includes 1,300 climber plants to be planted along the BRT flyovers and pillars.
The Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) has already planted over 191,000 trees in the city over the past three years.