Retrieved land planted with saplings

The Punjab forest department, with the help of the Khushab district administration, has retrieved its land allegedly occupied by a mafia for over 50 years.

Reportedly, plantation was done on the recently retrieved land.

A total of 436 kanals from Ainon Minor to Lakho and 40 acres of land along the Nurpur Distributary Canal had been retrieved from illegal occupation, which included the land of Okhli Mohalla Chaks. 

District Forest Officer Naseem Iqbal Butt told The Express Tribune that 40 acres of land had been planted with jujube, Safeda and cactus while 436 kanals had been planted with frash, cactus and sesame.

Reportedly, this was the first time since 1947 that trees had been planted on the site.

He added, “Before this, it was a barren land and planting trees here was also difficult due to sand dunes. This tree planting will prove to be helpful in reducing environmental pollution and poverty. People's lives will change socially and economically.”

He further said that the forest department was continuously conducting operations across the district to get rid of the land grabbing mafia.

Read Crackdown on encroachments today

“In the vicinity of canals and roads, plantation will be done on all the retrieved land with the help of district administration under the 10 billion trees project which will not only increase the forest ratio of the country but also strengthen the economy.

Nadeem Hayat, a local resident, said that the forest department and the district administration had retrieved the government land from the mafia. “However, the operation should be conducted without any discrimination.”

Range Officer Omar Farooq said that the purpose of the operation was to make government land useful for the society by clearing it of encroaches.

He said that operation was carried out against the mafia all over the area. “Strict action will also be taken against those who cut down illegal forests.”

He further said that plantation had been done where the land had been retrieved, which was also being protected by the forest department personnel. “The latest method of tree planting has been adopted.”

Forest expert Ahmad Rehman said that along with forest plantation, their protection was very important.

“Special attention has to be paid to this as well as steps have to be taken to curb illegal deforestation. Officers have been posted in government forests due to which cutting of trees has reduced to a large extent.”

“If someone cuts wood, legal action is taken against them, but the forests planted on the private lands of the local population are cut down and sold as needed due to which deforestation continues in the local forests,” he added.

He further said, “If the government pays the price on the condition that the local landlords do not cut down their forests, then the ratio of forest will increase further.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2021.