Forest dept starts tree plantation on 2,500 acres of land in Potohar region

Rawalpindi

On the directions of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the forest department has started tree plantation on 2,500 acres of land in Potohar region of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to make healthy environment all around. The forest department will cover 1,000 acres of state owned hilly areas, 590 acres of state owned plain area, while 910 acres of privately owned area with trees in Potohar region.

The federal government has already approved an amount of one billion rupees for the Prime Minister Green Pakistan Programme (GPP) to boost up tree cover in the country.

Pakistan Horticulture Authority (PHA) Managing Director Malik Abid Hussain said that natural environment of twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad is affected due to deforestation for some years. Potohar region needed more and more trees as its mountains were still without trees. Due to continuous cutting of trees in Potohar region people are facing severe environment, he said.

According to forest department, as many as 2,129 forest cases have been registered, while 77 FIRs lodged in different police stations against violators in Rawalpindi region.

Conservator of Forest (Rawalpindi Region) Athar Shah Khagga told ‘The News’ that the department is trying to cover all areas with trees. In 2015-16, they have planted trees on 552,263 acres of state owned land of Rawalpindi Circle including 15,017 kilometre of roadsides and 499 kilometre of rail sides. We have also planted trees on 168,667 acres of privately owned land in Rawalpindi circle, he said.

He said that they have imposed fine of Rs1,44 crore against tree violators in Rawalpindi Circle. He said they are taking action against violators according to ‘Forest Act 1927’. “We have generated Rs12.36 crore revenues for the Punjab government from Rawalpindi Circle, while we have completely banned cutting of green trees,” he said. He said that higher authorities strictly directed us to plant more and more trees in Potohar region to make a natural and healthy environment here. “According to Prime Minister Green Pakistan Programme, we have started tree plantation here in Potohar region,” he informed.

Reliable sources said that Rawalpindi region has become a hub as well as a gateway for smuggling wood. The illegal practice is continuing in different areas of Murree including Barmal, Manga, Samal, Karor, Khoti High School, Mouri, Sorasi, Barian, Gail, Angoori, Daryagali, Kalimatti, Ghoragali, Pagwari, Cheekagali and Masoot. The sources also said that majority of areas in Rawalpindi region were without natural gas “If the government provides gas to the areas, the need for firewood would decrease in winter and summer and it will help protect forest.”

It is important to mention here that Murree and Kotli Sattian tehsils are famous for ‘royal trees’ including Chir Pine, Blue Pine, Deodar etc.

A key post official of Forest Department on anonymity said that according to the Forest Act 1927, vehicles carrying wood can move only during the day to avoid smuggling but the timber mafia transport its consignment from Murree to Rawalpindi during the night.