New force on the cards to protect forests

The initiative will ensure that field staff are granted police powers and permission to use force

LAHORE:

The Punjab Department of Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries has submitted a summary to the Punjab chief minister, outlining the creation of a new force to protect province’s forests and wildlife.

Though forested areas in Punjab hold protected status, threats like poaching, illegal deforestation and attacks on forest staff remain frequent, leading to the requirement of the “forest force” to protect the forests and staff.

The initiative will ensure that field staff of the forest department are granted police powers and permission to use force.

Read: Govt plans to reinvigorate forest, other departments

At present, Rs2 billion has been allocated for the purchase of modern vehicles and weapons, uniforms, offices and infrastructure. According to Shahid Zamanrecruitment is underway and personnel are currently being interviewed for the role. The force has been approved by both the finance and the law departments; only Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s approval is required for operations to commence.

In different parts of Punjab, there are frequent incidents of forest guards and wildlife personnel being tortured and sometimes killed by poachers and tree thieves.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2022.