FAO head in Pakistan calls on Secretary Environment, Forests

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th May, 2026) Ms. Kiyal Akmatbek, Head of Office of food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Pakistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accompanied by her team, visited the office of the Climate Change, Forestry, Environment & Wildlife Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a comprehensive meeting was held with Junaid Khan, Secretary of the Department, at his office.

The meeting revolved around key environmental priorities including forest rangelands, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and the growing challenges posed by climate change.

Detailed discussions were held on the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s ongoing efforts under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change Policy 2022, the Climate Adaptation Plan, and the proposed establishment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change Authority which is a landmark institutional initiative aimed at strengthening climate governance and accelerating sustainable environmental action across the province.

During the meeting, Secretary Climate Change Junaid Khan highlighted the ecological significance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s forests, which serve as the green lungs of Pakistan and play a pivotal role in carbon sequestration, watershed protection, biodiversity preservation, and climate mitigation.

He briefed the FAO delegation on the province’s expanding forest cover, achieved through consistent and large-scale afforestation and reforestation campaigns conducted during the spring and monsoon plantation seasons each year.

The Secretary further emphasized that the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains steadfast in its commitment to restoring degraded landscapes, conserving natural ecosystems, and promoting community-based forest management to ensure a greener and climate-resilient future.

The meeting also underscored the importance of continued collaboration with international development partners, particularly FAO, in advancing sustainable forestry, climate adaptation, and environmental stewardship in the province.

The engagement reflected a shared resolve to transform environmental challenges into opportunities for sustainable development, where every sapling planted today becomes a promise of resilience for generations to come.