Text and Photos provided by IAP
The Institute of Architects Pakistan National Council (IAP-NC), in collaboration with the IAP Peshawar Chapter, CECOS University Peshawar, and the Peshawar Development Authority (PDA), organized a tree plantation drive at the extension site of Shalman Park, Hayatabad. The event, aimed at promoting environmental stewardship and ecological revival, saw the participation of key stakeholders, including:
- Ar. Fawad Suhail Abbasi, FIAP, President of IAP
- Ar. Zulfiqar Ali, Immediate Past President of IAP
- Ar. Muhammad Tahir Khattak, FIAP, Honorary Secretary of IAP
- Ar. Kamran Khan Mehsud, Chairman of IAP Peshawar Chapter
- Ar. Jahangir Khan Sherpao, FIAP, Past President of IAP and ARCASIA, and International President of EAROPH
- Ar. Imran Khalil, Immediate Past Chairman of IAP Peshawar Chapter
- Executive Committee Members of IAP Peshawar Chapter
- Mr. Khurshid Qasim Marwat, Registrar of CECOS University
- Ar. Adnan Ahmad Khan, FIAP, Head of Architecture Department, CECOS
- Ar. Mansoor Ahmad, FIAP, Past Chairman of IAP Peshawar Chapter
- Mr. Muhammad Naeem, Director General of PDA
- Ar. Nosheed Ullah Shah, FIAP, Past Chairman of IAP Peshawar Chapter
The initiative focused on planting fruit-bearing trees as part of a long-term vision to restore the region’s ecological heritage. Conceived by Ar. Zulfiqar Ali, the drive encouraged architecture students to plant and adopt trees, fostering a sense of personal responsibility toward environmental sustainability.
Ar. Muhammad Tahir Khattak formally welcomed participants, emphasizing the role of architects in shaping sustainable urban futures. Ar. Zulfiqar Ali highlighted how small, meaningful actions by young architects can create lasting impacts, while Mr. Khurshid Qasim Marwat commended the initiative for its educational and ecological value.
Ar. Adnan Ahmad Khan thanked IAP for promoting sustainability through experiential learning, and Ar. Mansoor Ahmad reaffirmed his organization’s support for future green initiatives. Mr. Muhammad Naeem, Chief Guest from PDA, spoke on reviving Peshawar’s lost biodiversity, recalling species like green parrots that once thrived in the region.
President IAP Ar. Fawad Suhail Abbasi praised the collaborative effort, aligning it with the architectural profession’s ethical responsibilities. Ar. Jahangir Khan Sherpao shared his past success in planting citrus trees in Hayatabad, while Ar. Nosheed Ullah Shah announced an upcoming International Round Table on the Regeneration of Peshawar under EAROPH.
In his closing remarks, Ar. Kamran Khan Mehsud thanked all participants and invited them to plant a tree tagged with their name as a lasting commitment. Over 200 fruit trees, donated by Engr. Sohaib Tanveer, Vice President of CECOS, were planted by students, who pledged to monitor their growth.
The event marked a significant step toward reconnecting Peshawar with its green legacy, demonstrating how architecture and nature can thrive together.
