Protecting the environment: Forests and Environment Minister talks to forest owners

Minister assures to protect the forests in K-P.

PESHAWAR:

All necessary measures will be taken for protecting the rights of forest owners in Kohat District. This was stated by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister for Forests and Environment Wajid Ali Khan as he spoke with a delegation of forest owners at K-P House in Abbotabad on Wednesday. The minister assured that the matter would be taken to the provincial cabinet and reservations of the National Accountability Bureau would also be addressed.

Additional Secretary Forests Arshad Majeed Memon, Chief Conservator Forests Muhammad Nazir Khan, Conservator Gul Muhammad and other officials of the ministry were also present.

The provincial minister said, “It is the government’s duty to protect forests and stopping illegal logging is extremely necessary in achieving this goal.”

He informed that the forests were being transferred to the provincial government under the 18th Amendment and promised to pay full attention to matters concerning the forest department.

He told the delegation that his department would monitor the activities of groups involved in illegal logging and impose strict penalties on those found guilty. He also said that he had directed the higher authorities of the ministry to remove all hurdles for the resolution of problems in Kohistan.

Earlier, MPAs Maulana Obaidullah and Abdul Sattar Khan highlighted the problems being faced by the forest owners and expressed hope that the minister would take appropriate measures to resolve these issues. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2011.