Senate body voices concern over fire incidents in forests

The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change expressed grave concern on Tuesday over fire incidents in the forests of Islamabad, Murree and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while slamming the absence of Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam from the committee's meeting.
"The forests of our country are burning but the honourable adviser can not spare a few precious moments out of his otherwise hectic schedule and brief the Senate committee on such a serious matter," committee chairperson Sitara Ayaz from Awami National Party (ANP) remarked sarcastically during the meeting.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said, "I am sure the honourable Adviser Amin Aslam must have other important commitments to take care of but more important is the Parliament and its committees. Fire incidents have surfaced in the federal capital, Murree and KP and the forests have been wiped out in the affected areas but the adviser has no time to be here and brief us. This is just unacceptable."
The officials from KP Forest Department informed the committee that trees three-year old or more were not affected in the related fire incidents. "There are some miscreants who try to set forests on fire just for fun and adventure," the officials said.
The committee members said planting more trees and saplings is a futile exercise unless adequate measures are taken to ensure the safety and protection of forests and related plantation sites.
The committee was informed that 200 hectares of forest area has been affected this year by fire which, the official termed, is a 'very rare occurrence.' This took the committee members by shock that raised questions over the performance of KP Forest Department. It was revealed that most affected area was private forest land that was being cut down to store wood for the winters.
The committee directed that joint efforts must be made in coordination with provincial disaster management authorities (PDMAs) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to control fire incidents without discriminating between government and private land.
Climate Change Secretary Hassan Nasir Jamy said a regulation framework must be developed to respond to this situation.
Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman Amer Ali Ahmed briefed the committee on implementation of the resolution passed by the Senate in April this year in favour of reinstating greenbelts in the federal capital. The CDA chairman informed the committee that it will conduct a massive plantation drive and is currently in the process of removing all illegal structures that have contributed to the loss of greenery in Islamabad. The committee directed that a detailed briefing on slums be carried out on the next meeting.