MANSEHRA: The administrations of Upper and Lower Kohistan have launched a crackdown against deforestation and timber smuggling via the Karakoram Highway in their respective districts.
“The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has zero tolerance for deforestation and timber smuggling. Forest and police personnel posted at checkpoints will remain on high alert,” Azizullah Jan, deputy commissioner of Upper Kohistan, told a meeting at his office on Tuesday.
The district police officer, divisional forest officers, and representatives of other departments attended the meeting, which also finalised a comprehensive strategy to effectively tackle deforestation and timber smuggling.
“All those involved in timber smuggling and deforestation should be brought to justice, as we have to preserve our forests,” Jan said.The DC also warned forest department officials of strict punitive action if they were found involved in facilitating timber smuggling or illegal tree cutting anywhere in the district. Assistant Commissioner Dasu, Gul Faraz Khan, visited forest offices and the Zaidkhar checkpoint on the Karakoram Highway to review arrangements for curbing timber smuggling. Meanwhile, the Lower Kohistan district administration also held a meeting to curb deforestation and timber smuggling in its jurisdiction along the Karakoram Highway.
