Pakistan has planted, regenerated or distributed nearly 2.3 billion plants under the Green Pakistan Programme, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to restore degraded ecosystems and strengthen resilience to climate change.

Official data reported by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan shows that approximately 2.283 billion plants had been covered by the programme by March 2026. This represents around 69.3 percent of its overall target.

Nearly 700,000 Hectares Covered

The programme has reportedly increased or restored tree cover across nearly 700,000 hectares.

During the first nine months of the 2025–26 financial year alone, provinces and territories reported planting, regenerating or distributing around 30.5 million plants.

Progress against plantation targets varied considerably across the country:

  • Sindh achieved approximately 86 percent of its target
  • Punjab reached around 79 percent
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa achieved about 73 percent
  • Gilgit-Baltistan reached approximately 62 percent
  • Azad Jammu and Kashmir achieved around 34 percent
  • Balochistan reached approximately 28 percent

The differences highlight the need to examine local capacity, water availability, land conditions, funding and monitoring systems across different regions.

Planting Is Only the First Step

Large plantation figures can demonstrate the scale of restoration efforts, but the number of plants distributed or planted does not by itself confirm how many survive and develop into healthy ecosystems.

Long-term success depends on:

  • Selecting native and climate-appropriate species
  • Protecting young plants from grazing and land clearing
  • Ensuring adequate water during early growth
  • Monitoring survival rates over several years
  • Preventing forest fires and illegal cutting
  • Restoring complete ecosystems rather than planting isolated trees

Natural regeneration can also be more effective than plantation campaigns in some landscapes because it allows locally adapted vegetation to recover with less disturbance.

Pakistan Still Has Limited Forest Cover

Pakistan’s total forest area is estimated at approximately 4.1 million hectares, representing only about 4.7 percent of its land area.

The country is also estimated to lose around 11,000 hectares of forest annually, showing that plantation efforts are taking place alongside continuing pressure from deforestation, development, fuelwood collection and land degradation.

Billions of plants can support restoration, but lasting progress will depend on whether forests survive, regenerate and remain protected.

Why Forest Restoration Matters

Healthy forests and natural landscapes can reduce soil erosion, protect watersheds, store carbon, provide wildlife habitat and help communities withstand floods, drought and extreme heat.

They also support livelihoods through agriculture, tourism, forest products and ecosystem services.

The federal climate ministry has received development funding for afforestation, biodiversity conservation, carbon sequestration and the restoration of degraded ecosystems during the 2026–27 financial year.

The next test for the Green Pakistan Programme will be whether reported plantation numbers translate into measurable gains in surviving tree cover, biodiversity and ecosystem health.