Pindi forest dept collects record revenue
Punjab’s biggest source of revenue will remain the amount which will come from the federal government under the federal divisible pool. Photo: file
The Rawalpindi forest department’s timber division has collected a record revenue of over Rs66 million during the first 6 months of the current fiscal year 2022-23.
According to an official, the department collected this revenue from July 1 to December 31, 2022, and deposited it into the Punjab treasury.
He said over Rs70 million in revenue is expected during the second half of the current fiscal year that began on January 1. Additional forest officer Junaid Mumtaz Khan told upon contacting that this year, the forest department will get record revenue in its history.
Explaining the reason for this, he said that the forest department has controlled timber theft in all government forests.
Security monitoring of government forests has been increased and checking has been tightened at all entrances and exits of the forests and closed circuit cameras have also been installed at important locations.
The official also informed that visits to the field are also being conducted regularly. He said that incidents of timber theft have been reduced and sawmills operational around the forests have also been shut down.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2023.