Mayor directed to order enquiry to identify reason

Islamabad : Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan has made telephonic contact with the mayor of Islamabad and directed him to conduct an enquiry to identify the reasons behind the recent fire incident in the Margalla hills, the sources said here on Saturday.

The sources said the minister for climate change also directed the civic authorities to conduct high-powered enquiry to identify the reasons for the fire incident and take strict action if anyone found guilty in this respect.

They said the minister for climate change has also assured the mayor of Islamabad his full support in introducing a new mechanism to avoid any kind of fire incident in the protected Margalla hills especially in the summer.

It is pertinent to mention here that the fire that erupted near Trail V on early Thursday morning had engulfed some 40 acres of tree cover near two villages including Kalinger and Sandoori.

According to officials of the Capital Development Authorities (CDA), the fire in the Margalla hills started on area between villages, Kalinger and Sandoori, and engulfed 40 acres of area destroying bushes and small trees. Pakistan army and air force had provided helicopters to extinguish the fire.

The spokesperson of the climate change ministry said that Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan while taking notice of the fire incident at Margalla hills talked to the mayor of Islamabad on telephone.

“The minister for climate change and the mayor of Islamabad have decided to carry out enquiry of the fire incident and take action against those who would be found guilty in this respect,” the spokesperson said.