The Punjab government has proposed to allocate a sum of Rs 2 billion for the forestry sector during the financial year 2017-18 with an aim to execute 14 new schemes and continue working on 24 ongoing schemes. New initiatives planned under this sector for the next year include Khaadam-e-Punjab Rural Roads Project (KPRRP) Phase-III, Strengthening of Forest Services Academy Ghoragali (Murree), improvement and rehabilitation of forests parks in Punjab, improvement and rehabilitation of irrigated plantations in central, northern and southern zones.
According to the budget documents, the vision of forest department is to develop, maintain and maximise forest resources in a scientific, environmentally sustainable, ecologically stable and socially acceptable manner. Nevertheless, the forest department failed to utilise its revised allocation for the current year which was Rs 1.554 billion for 27 ongoing and 13 new schemes. The Department could only utilise Rs 0.916 billion against released amount of Rs 1.560 billion and surrendered Rs 0.618 billion.
In the same period, under federal government's initiative Green Pakistan Programme-Revival of Forestry Resources in Punjab on matching grant basis at the cost of Rs 1.263 billion was included as non-ADP project during 2016-17, the documents added.
The department also completed 16 schemes in the same period prominent of which include Sharif Forest Park near Dongi Dam Tehsil Gujar Khan, Rehabilitation of Kamalia irrigated plantation, forestation and landscaping of Shahdra reserve forests land bank near Mehmood Booti landfill and development of Changa Manga forest park.
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