This refers to the press conference of Ahsan in Chitral Press Club in which patriotic citizens cited about deforestation in Chitral. Whatever facts he disclosed are ground realities as the timber mafia has started ruthless cutting of green deodar in the forest of Shishi Koh and other forest areas (details presented by Ahsan in the press conference).

Mr Ahsan belongs to Shishikoh valley where this green cutting is in progress and he is eyewitness of the whole situation. Before his press conference Mr. Rehmat Ali Jaffardost also highlighted this gigantic issue in his various letters to newspapers and websites. But who will listen to the grievances of the people is a big question. In Pakistan neither the district government nor provincial government take notice of any issue.

The forest department starts from the chief conservator to forest guard to lower rank, and the staff is getting millions of rupees from the exchequer in the form of salaries.

Trees are being cut in various forest areas of Chitral in the garb of windfall collection and marking, and many environmental activists like Jaffardost and Ahsan have been trying to bring the issue to the notice of department but all departmental heads are giving deaf ear to the issue.

We request to the people of the respective villages and valleys to come out against the timber mafia and stop them from green cutting with public force, because entire department are supporting timber mafia and only public could have the chance of protecting their green gold from the clutches of timber mafia.

NASIR MEHMOOD Chitral