FWO contradicts NFEH’s statement

Apropos a news item published in ‘The News’ (Page 13) on April 10, 2017, highlighting the statement, “Police refusing to lodge FIR against cutting of trees for M-9 motorway”.

The statement held that Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) chopped down around 5,800 trees along the Super Highway for construction of the M-9 motorway.

A spokesman for FWO said on Wednesday: “It is unequivocally clarified that hardly 200 trees including shrubs have been cut down for the construction of ‘Karachi Toll Plaza’ to meet the demand of the 12-lane motorway at the desired location. The total number of chopped down trees as mentioned by the newspaper is highly exaggerated. It is, however, worth mentioning that before cutting the trees and shrubs, FWO sought permission from the forestry department through a letter written on April 3, 2017.” 

As far as the duties and moral obligations of FWO towards environmental issues are concerned, it is also elaborated that FWO is already planting neem and palm trees along both sides of the M-9 motorway according to a very comprehensive plan. 

The process of plantation is being done under codes of environmental studies.

It should be recalled that the news item published was based on a statement issued by a non-governmental organisation, the National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH). As per the statement, the trees that were chopped down were planted around 10 years back by the forest department in the area along Super Highway from Wadi-e-Hussain graveyard till the Karachi Toll Plaza.