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TOBA TEK SINGH, April 4: Punjab forest minister Dr Ashfaqur Rehman said on Friday that plantation of Eucalyptus trees had been banned in forests, because it was harmful for the environment.
Addressing a gathering in Kamalia, the minister said that as much as Rs65 million would be spent on research in the Faisalabad Agriculture University and the Gutwa Forest Research Institute to save hundreds of thousands of trees from diseases.
He added that it had been decided that inquiries into timber theft would also extend to the concerned forest department officials.
There was a shortage of forest guards at present, the minister said and added, a guard having a bicycle was responsible for looking after forests spread over 32 miles. He observed that out of posts created in the department 33 years ago, 1500 were lying vacant.
The minister said the forest department would give land to farmers on a 10-year lease for tree-plantation. However, cultivation of crops would not be allowed on this land. After 10 years, half of the trees would become property of the farmer and the department.
Forest conservator Tahir Saeed and Faisalabad forest officer Rao Abdul Muqeet Khan were also present on the occasion.
ZAKAT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN HELD: The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) raided Chak 303-GB and arrested the Zakat and Usher Committee chairman, Mushtaq Ali, on the charge of misappropriation of Zakat funds.
A villager, Allah Ditta Qasab, had filed a complaint with the Faisalabad ACE additional director, saying that the accused had drawn Rs40,000 of Zakat money from bank in his name but paid him only half the money.
An inquiry was made, the allegation confirmed and a case registered against the accused under Section 409 of the PPC and 5/2/47 of the Anti-Corruption Act.
BOOKED FOR EXTORTION: The Faisalabad Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered a case against one Imtiaz Muzaffar of the Gojra Model Town on charges of extorting hundreds of thousands of rupees from three persons.
Under the pretext of providing Australian visas, Mr Muzaffar allegedly received Rs300,000 from Zafar Iqbal of Chak 369-JB, Rs226,000 from Mohammad Riaz of Chak 99-JB and Rs200,000 from Irshad Ali Shahid of Gojra’s Hussaini Colony. The accused has not yet been arrested.
