ISLAMABAD, Dec 12: Federal Minister for Environment Omar Asghar Khan said the government was taking concrete steps to increase forest area in the country.

Presiding over a meeting on the issue of restructuring Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI) here on Wednesday, the minister said the PFI was being restructured so that it can play an important role in this regard.

He said previous governments had neglected the issues of research, training and education on forestry. Mr Khan said a research and transition committee would be constituted to induct competent professionals to run the PFI. He said the research committee of the PFI would also be activated and all possible steps would be taken to ensure autonomy of this institution.