DLP Report
PESHAWAR
On the instructions of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department has formally requested the federal government to declare the Koh-i- Suleman or Suliman mountain range a wildlife conservancy.
In a letter sent to the Ministry of Environmental Coordination, the provincial government emphasized the need for interprovincial collaboration to protect the biodiversity of Koh-i- Suleman, which spans Punjab, Balochistan, and KP.
The letter highlighted the ecological significance of the mountain range, which is home to rare plant species and wildlife. It stressed that conserving this unique habitat would not only safeguard biodiversity but also contribute to global environmental recognition for the region.
Additionally, the provincial government has underscored the role of ecosystem protection in mitigating climate change impacts and improving the livelihoods of local communities. While the province has already initiated measures to protect wildlife within its borders, officials argued that coordinated action across all three provinces was essential for effective conservation.
The letter urged the federal government to play a leading role in designating Koh-i-Suleman as a trans-boundary wildlife conservancy, ensuring uniform conservation efforts across Punjab, Balochistan, and KP.
It may be pertinent to mention here that the mountain range marks the eastern boundary of the Iranian plateau. It spans across Afghanistan’s Kandahar, Zabul, and Paktia provinces, while in Pakistan, it stretches through northern Balochistan, Waziristan, and Kurram in KP.
The range also extends into southwestern Punjab, covering parts of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts, situated west of the Indus River.
