DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Special Assistant to Chief Minister for anti-corruption establishment, Brigadier (R) Musadiq Abbasi, while taking notice of the news circulated in the media regarding the illegal cutting of forests has issued directives to the concerned officials. In this regard under the directives Forest Department KP has imposed a complete ban on the movement of wood. Seven teams have been formed which are monitoring and checking the movement of wood.
Meanwhile, they are also verifying the legality and illegality of the movement of wood. Anti-corruption establishment is taking necessary action regarding illegal deforestation and starting an inquiry regarding illegal deforestation in this regard. Strict disciplinary action will be taken against those involved. If officials or officers of any government department are found facilitating or involved in deforestation, they will face strict disciplinary action. District Forest Officers Mansehra and Batagram have been suspended and departmental inquiries initiated against them for allowing cutting of trees and timber supply in Mansehra and Butgram districts despite the ban on forest cutting.
The government also banned the movement of this timber until it was confirmed whether it was legal or illegal. It is further stated in the handout issued here that the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led govt has successfully planted billions of new trees through the Billion Tree Tsunami Program, while, significant amount of money has also been allocated for this program in the next financial year. The provincial government is aware of the benefits and usefulness of trees and is taking steps to protect them.
