A B B O T T A B A D : Commissioner Hazara Division Shahrukh Ali, while chairing a meeting here on Wednesday, directed the forest department, motorway police and other relevant agencies to formulate a strategy t o prevent illegal timber transportation through the Hazara Motorway and ensure the protection offorests.Chief conservator of forests (Hazara), conservator of forests (Lower Hazara), GM National Highway Authority (NHA), superintendent of police (Motorway Police) and others attended the meeting.
Forest officials briefed the meeting on measures to curb timber smuggling and presented details of forest resources across Hazara Division. Officials informed the meeting that the division has a total of 1,492,396acres of forest land, including 975,418 acres of protected forests and approximately 516,978 acres of Guzara (community-owned) forests.
The commissioner directed the departments concerned to strengthen mutual coordination and take strict legal action against individuals involved in illegal timber transportation. He further instructed that the copies of all the FIRs registered in such cases be forwarded to his officefor onward submission to the regional policeofficer (RPO) Hazara for necessary legal action.
He also directed the forest department to maintain effective coordination with the special forest magistrate to ensure proper legal proceedings against those involved in forest-related offences.
Shahrukh Ali said the Motorway Police would extend all possible support to the Forest Department in preventing timber smuggling. He also announced that a separate meeting would be held between the Motorway Police and the chiefconservator forests to develop a coordinated mechanism for effective monitoring and enforcement.
Emphasising the importance of forest conservation, the commissioner said forests played a vit al role in maintaining environmental balance, protecting natural habitats and preserving biodiversity.
He observed that deforestation and illegal timber smuggling not only deplete valuable natural resources but also pose serious threats to the environment and ecosystem.