MINGORA: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan said here on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was keen to bring green revolution for which 10 billion trees would be planted in the country.

He was speaking at a tree plantation ceremony at Mandoor area of Matta tehsil where he planted a sapling and started tree plantation campaign in the province. He alleged that the past governments had destroyed forests in the province as they took no practical steps to either save forests or plant new trees which was why climate change affected Malakand region the most.

“The PTI government planted over one billion trees during its previous government for which I salute the forest department,” he said, adding that during the previous provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa not only forests were saved and preserved from illegal cutting, but also new trees were planted.

“During the next five years we will plant one billion more trees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for which proper strategy has been devised,” he said and urged the people to cooperate with the government in plantation and protection of tress besides allowing the forest department to plant trees in their barren lands.

The chief minister said that the provincial government had banned illegal hunting in the region, including Matta, and only seasonal hunting would be allowed. “Today, I declare the area from Mandoor to Gujarband as a game reserve region where only legal and seasonal hunting will be allowed,” he said.

He said that his government would soon announce to make the community police permanent. He said that the Swat motorway would be officially opened to traffic in May.

The chief minister crticised the role of NAB in KP and condemned the arrest of the provincial director of archaeology and museums, Abdul Samad Khan, by it.

“The arrest of Abdul Samad Khan is wrong and if NAB continues harassing honest officers in KP, it will hinder development in the province,” he said, adding that the bureau should stop harassment of honest officials.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2019