Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Forests and Environment Fazal Hakeem Khan Yousafzai has said that strict legal action will be taken against those involved in cutting of the forests and no one would be spared in this regard. He expressed these views while talking to delegations from various areas here in office on Wednesday. Taking action against the people involved in forest cutting and officials of the forest department in violation of ban on cutting, he said that 3 officials will be suspended and an FIR will be registered against those involved to send them to jail. The provincial minister said that forests and tourism are inseparable and for this purpose a record plantation will be carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Fazal Hakeem Khan Yousafzai said the provincial government had taken notice of a video regarding cutting of trees in Alai Sub-Division of Battagram and an 8-member committee was formed under the chairmanship of Syed Zubair Shah Range Forest Officer with directives to furnish a report within 48 hours. According to the report of the committee, three officials of the forest department and an individual were found involved in deforestation. The officials have been suspended and directives for further investigations have been issued. He said that the officials of the Forests Department have also been instructed to keep a close watch on such incidents and exhibit no concessions to those who cut the forests and taking more measures to protect the forests.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan