PESHAWAR: Expressing his displeasure over the state of affairs in Malakand division, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has sought weekly report on law and order and administrative situation in the region.

He directed the civil administration and police to improve overall law and order and administrative matters in the division within one month, according to a statement issued here.

The chief minister said that strict action would be taken against the responsible officials if no visible improvement was witnessed in law and order in Malakand division.

He issued these directives while chairing a high level meeting to review law and order situation and administrative affairs in Malakand division.

The meeting deliberated upon the matters related to the overall law and order, anti-encroachment operations and steps being taken to stop illegal cutting of trees and protection of forests in the region.

Chief Secretary Dr Kazim Niaz, Inspector General Police Muazzam Jah Ansari, Senior Member Board of Revenue Syed Zafar Ali Shah, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister AmjadAliKhan,commissionerandregional police of ficer of Malakand and other senior officers attended the meeting.

The chief minister directed the officials concerned to submit a weekly report regarding law and order and administrative af fairsin Malakand division. He also directed the quarters concerned to chalk out a comprehensive mechanism for the security of tourists. He asked them to ensure that no incident of inconvenience for tourist takes place in future.

He also directed the relevant officials to expedite anti-encroachment operations in Swat district and take indiscriminate action against illegal constructions on the riverbeds.

The chief minister also directed the authorities concerned to speed up action against land grabbers and the people involved in illegal constructions. He said that violators of River Protection Act would be dealt with iron hand and nobody should be spared.

Mr Khan directed them to take stern actions against the people challenging writ of state. He said that FIRs should be lodged against such people as per the relevant provisions of law.

Moreover, the chief minister directed the forests secretary to prepare a plan to effectively stop illegal cutting of forests in Kalam and complete the recruitment process against the newly created vacancies in the department to put an end to illegal cutting of trees.

He directed the authorities of revenue department to initiate land settlement in Kalam to demarcate the forest land within three months.-Bureau Report