Punjab’s Forest Department has recovered forest land valued at around Rs. 9 billion over the past two years as part of efforts to address encroachments and illegal occupation across the province.
According to department officials, a total of 1,984.62 acres of forest land has been reclaimed during the period. More than three-quarters of the recovered land was located in southern Punjab, where authorities carried out a significant portion of the anti-encroachment drive.
Alongside the recovery of forest land, the department has expanded plantation and restoration activities. More than 50,869 acres have been brought under plantation, with over 50 million trees planted during the same two-year period.
Officials said digital monitoring has also been introduced to improve the management and protection of forest resources. Around 800,000 acres of forests have been digitally recorded, while approximately 30 million trees have been geo-tagged to support tracking and documentation.
The department further reported a major reduction in losses caused by forest fires in Murree. According to officials, fire-related forest losses in the hill station have declined by 85%.
The figures reflect a combination of land recovery, large-scale plantation and greater use of digital tools in forest management. Authorities say these measures are intended to protect forest areas, improve monitoring and support long-term restoration efforts across Punjab.
