11 officials transferred over Lal Suhanra tree cutting

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has taken stern notice of the illegal cutting of trees in Lal Suhanra National Park in Bahawalpur.

On the direction of the senior minister after complaints and evidence of the illegal felling of more than six dozen precious and rare trees, 11 officials, including a chief conservator, have been transferred back to their departments.

A team from the Anti-Corruption Establishment, as well as the forests secretary, has reached Bahawalpur to probe into the matter. It will conduct a thorough inquiry into the types of trees, their number, those involved and other factors to curb the menace.

In a statement, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said strict legal action will be taken against officials involved in the illegal tree cutting and sale.

According to notifications of the Punjab government, the services of grade-20 Chief Conservator Khalid Mahmood have been surrendered to his parent department along with Conservator Mansoor Ahmad and DFO Nadeem Ashraf.

Among the officials transferred back to Lahore are RFO Hamad Raza, Mumtaz Hussain; Muhammad Saeed, Muhammad Shafique, Sohail Anwar, Naveed Akhtar, Sajjad Ahmad and Arif Niazi.

The Lal Suhanra National Park, situated 35km east of Bahawalpur, spans 127,480 acres. Designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve, the park is distinguished by its diverse landscape, including deserts, forests, lakes, rivers and marshlands, serving as a crucial ecosystem.

Moreover, it boasts remnants of the Indus Valley civilisation and is home to a plethora of rare wildlife species.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2024.