Going green: Govt to impose complete ban on tree felling

All sawmills across the province to be sealed, says environment minister.

ABBOTABAD:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Environment Haji Ibrar Hussain Tanoli on Sunday said the provincial government has decided to impose a complete ban on tree felling in the region’s forests.

Speaking to journalists, the newly-appointed minister said the government would also seal all sawmills across the province. “As a first step, all sawmills whether legal or illegal would be sealed across the province besides banning the issuance of transportation permits (TPs) for timber,” said Tanoli.



Tanoli, who has been a renowned trader in the timber business himself, said the ban on tree felling would be strictly implemented.

The provincial minister said tree felling and smuggling to other parts of the country from Hazara was depriving the region of its natural forest resources and vowed to crackdown on the illicit practice.

He stressed the need for coordinated efforts by all stakeholders, including police, forest department and community members for this purpose.

Tanoli said he has also directed the forest secretary to prepare a summary for the induction of six hundred unemployed but educated youth in a special task force to reinforce the decision.

In addition, he said a viable plan would be prepared for the establishment of a forest college in Tanawal, Mansehra to spread awareness regarding the environment among forest land owners and other community members.

Of his induction in the cabinet, Tanoli said he accepted the portfolio as a challenge, adding he would take drastic measures to ensure the conservation of the environment.

The provincial minister warned officials of his department to improve their performance, saying he would take stern action against slackers.

“I do not believe in transfers of errant officials because it hardly serves the purpose. Rather, I would go the extra mile in punishing those found violating the law.”



Tanoli, who was elected on a Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) ticket from PK-57, Mansehra in the 2013 general elections, was flanked by Secretary Environment Adil Khan along with other officials of the forest department during his visit to the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2013.