Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Forests, Environment and Wildlife Conservation, Haji Ibrar Hussein said that corrupt practices of police force while dealing with timber mafia are the main cause of deforestation as well as massive timber smuggling in the province in general and in Hazara Division in particular.
He stated that an independent and trained Forest Force would be formed in a bid to protect and promote forests on a secure and sustainable basis. He also ordered the high ups of Hazara Forest Division to approach the provincial home department for requisitioning of Frontier Constabulary Contingents and deploy them to check timber mafia activities.
The Provincial Minister issued these orders while presiding over a meeting at the office of Conservator Forests, Hazara Division here on Thursday. Expressing his resolve for protection and development of forests, Haji Ibrar warned that no compromise will now be made in this regard and stringent action would be taken against timber mafia, and the department's officials will also be taken to the task if any inefficiency or negligence on their part is surfaced. Assuring not to disturb officials of his department without any reason, the Provincial Minister made it clear that he would not accept any political pressure or any other kind of influence for transfer, postings of officers and officials.
Stressing for reducing dependency on police to curb timber smuggling and check illicit trees' cutting the Minister forests suggested that his department is in dire need of more powers to check tree-cutting and timber smuggling related crimes. He also asked to ensure full implementation of his orders regarding ban on saw machines throughout the province. Discussing the state of revenue resources of the department, Haji Ibrar Hussain directed the officers concerned to take necessary steps for shifting the fine money, generated from illegal cutting and transportation of wood, to Forest Development Fund instead of depositing it in the Government Treasury. He was of the view that this amount should be spent for development and growth of new forests.
Briefing the Provincial Minister about key features of Northern Forest Region of Hazara, the Conservator Forest told that forests exist on 1.162 million acres of land in Hazara Division which form 28 percent of the total forests of the province. He said that a three-year Watershed Project would be launched in Hazara soon at a cost of 150 million rupees while massive tree plantation campaign will also be launched next month under a provincial mega project.
The meeting was told that 20% of the timber cut by private forests' owners is brought to Goharabad Timber Depot for auction and an amount of 600 million rupees, generated from Forest Cess, was available with the department and this amount is preferably spent on growth of new forests in the areas wherein the forests are depleted.