Afforestation programmes

Although the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation Project is a commendable initiative taken to tackle environmental problems, unabated deforestation in Chitral is just the opposite of the provincial government’s vision. The timber mafia has been cutting trees for wood which is used for commercial purposes. Due to lack of supervision, the number of trees cut down every year is quite high. The KP government has failed to control this unauthorised act of the mafia.
Similarly, in Gilgit-Baltistan, illegal cutting of trees have led to so many environmental problems. Afforestation projects will not help restore forests unless strict action is taken against illegal timber cutting. It is the responsibility of both the provincial and federal governments to supervise the activity. The increasing threat of global warming calls for plantation of more trees. If we fail to take proper action today, our tomorrow will be catastrophic.
Shakir H Shamim
Skardu