Pindi Forest dept hires firefighters

RAWALPINDI: To cope with any untoward situation, the district forest department has hired the services of trained firefighters before beginning of the heatwave.

The Rawalpindi district forest officials said that the decision was taken to protect the forests in the district. At least 50 firefighters have been recruited while their number would be increased phase-wise, they added.

The department has also established a round the clock control room to keep an eye on the situation while the holidays of all employees including foresters, forest guards and block officers have been suspended until July 15.

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The services of some eight range officials of the timber division, 20 foresters and, 12 forest guards have also been rendered. The department has placed a ban on bringing axe, matchstick, or lighter in the forest areas.

Punjab forest department has decided to hire 0.3 million unemployed people for planting saplings for the billion tree tsunami project.

The Punjab government has formally approved to start the project from July 15.

The forest department has devised the plan for planting saplings in each neighbourhood, union council (UC), and rural areas across the province.

The Forest department extension circle has rendered the services of Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Mianwali to oversee and complete the project on time.

The government has also provided the related administrative and field staff to the extension circle.

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While talking to The Express Tribune, Forest Extension Officer Sajid Qureshi said that it was a big project, adding that a record number of saplings would be planted in each and every part of the province during the drive. When asked what kind of saplings would be planted, the officer said that it would include shade, fruit, and flower bearing trees.

Qureshi said that monitoring of all planted saplings through satellite would be done to ensure that the project results are achieved. Apart from monitoring, they would be able to count the number of saplings through satellite technology as well, he added.

The officer said that the project would not only increase the green cover in the province but it would also provide employment to thousands of unemployed people. Besides this, he added that this project would ameliorate the environment too. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2020.