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Raja Muhammad
Zarif
Director General
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The Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar (PFI) being an attached department of Ministry of Environment, Government of Pakistan is working for the improvement of Environment, its conservation and the natural resources of the country by conducting research on various environmental issues and imparting training in the specialized field of forestry and allied disciplines. This organization is coordinating with all the national and international agencies related to forestry research as a part of its routine activity. Moreover, it has the capability to deal with current forestry challenges like desertification, arid zone afforestation, reclamation of waterlogged and saline soils through biological measures and conservation of biodiversity issues related to major flora and fauna in the country. It has also capabilities to conduct research on wood and wood-based products in the country and give guidelines to the industry working in these areas. Of course, the protection of watersheds and improvement of rangelands is an integral part of the system. In this context, the cooperation extended by the Ministry of Environment through the provision of various projects for the improvement of environment and poverty alleviation is praiseworthy. |
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Director General
Pakistan Forest Institute |
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Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI) is a Federal Government Organization
under the administrative control of the Ministry of Environment,
Government of Pakistan, Islamabad. It was established in 1947 at
Faisalabad in order to complete the training of the students who had
migrated to Pakistan after independence. In April, 1948 the PFI was
shifted to Upper Topa, Murree hills and then in October, 1951 to
Abbottabad. The construction of its present permanent building complex in
the Peshawar University Campus was started in 1955 and completed over a
period of about 10 years. During this period, main building consisting of
offices, laboratories and workshops, students’ hostels and residential
colony were constructed.
It started as a training institution, however, research was started soon
after its establishment when research branches were created in it e.g.,
Forest Utilization (1947), Forest Entomology (1949), Forest Botany
(1951), Forest Chemistry (1952), Medicinal Plants (1953) and Silviculture
(1956). The staff of these branches also participate in training
activities through teaching of the subjects of their specialization to
the students of the Institute in addition to conducting research. The
Institute is affiliated with the University of Peshawar since 1958 for
the purpose of examinations and award of degrees in Forestry.
Infra
Structure
PFI
complex consists of both non-residential and residential buildings. The main building block includes auditorium (01), committee
room (01), Conference room (01) museum (01), central library (01),
offices (72), lecture rooms (07), research and teaching laboratories
(22), Mechanical and wood workshops (2), stores and garages. Residential
buildings (270), students hostels (04), guesthouse (01), trainees’ hostel
(01), officers and staff clubs (one each), dispensary (01), Forest plant
research nurseries, range land, moriculture and medicinal plants research
nurseries (05), lawns and grounds (11), arboretum and rose garden (one
each). Arboretum has 271 species of forest trees, shrubs, and climbers
providing an excellent learning opportunity to forestry students as well
as students of other educational organizations on the main university
campus. |
