TIMERGARA: Senior government functionaries on Monday reviewed preparedness to tackle forest fires in the Lower Dir district, ensure availability of firefighting equipment and inter-departmental coordination.
Deputy Commissioner Basharat Ahmad chaired a meeting to review preparedness and response measures across the district following directives of the provincial government amid the ongoing heatwave and rising number of forest fires in the district.
The meeting was attended by the additional deputy commissioner relief and human rights, assistant and additional assistant commissioners, divisional forest officer, district emergency officer Rescue 1122, representatives of the police, revenue department, local government, civil defence, tehsil municipal administrations and other relevant departments.
During the meeting, the deputy commissioner directed the Forest Department to activate the divisional forest fire management committee and share a report on all forest fire incidents recorded in Lower Dir during the past three years.
He instructed the department to begin collecting dry grass and establish fire lines in high-risk forest areas to minimize the risk of fire outbreaks.He emphasized identification of fire-prone and vulnerable locations, including forests, tourist destinations, markets, and other sensitive sites. Authorities were directed to ensure preventive measures in these areas and strengthen the role of village defence committees in fire-affected and high-risk zones.
