Forest strategy: Federal govt to finalise draft policy

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to finalise the draft of the National Forest Policy with the help of all stakeholders. An official at the Ministry of Climate Change said the federal and provincial ministries are already working on it. The step has been taken on the directive of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan will present the draft policy in next cabinet meeting, she said. According to international law, all countries should reserve 12 per cent land for forests. In Pakistan only 4.8 per cent land has been reserved for the purpose. After the 18th Amendment, the environment subject was transferred to provinces. The provincial ministries are now asking the federal government to finalise the national forest policy for them to follow.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 13^th, 2015.