CHITRAL: The vast highlands of Chitral produce a large variety of medicinal plants to make the district one of the potential markets of the commodity feeding the pharmaceutical industry at national level.

This was said by forest conservator Afsarullah Khan Wazir at a function here on Monday. The function was held to provide kits for collecting medicinal plants on scientific and sustainable basis in the highlands of lower Chitral to the collectors, who were trained to choose and pluck the plants.

Mr Wazir handed over the kits to the collectors and said that the vast highlands of Chitral produced a large variety of medicinal plants, making the district one of the potential markets of the commodity feeding the pharmaceutical industry at national level.

He said that the plant collection on modern lines would broaden its base and provide jobs to the people living in the semi-mountainous regions of the district.

He said that steps were being taken to turn plant collection into a full-fledged profession to exploit the plants to their full capacity and make Chitral the largest hub of the commodity.

The in-charge of non-timber forest department in Chitral, Ajaz Ahmed said that 56 people were selected for extensive training in plant collection. He said that the obsolete and customary method of plant collection led to wastage of the prospective plants. Keeping in view the fact, the department embarked upon a programme of training and strengthening of the people of highlands.

Mr Ahmed said that the department was also providing guidance to the collectors to market their products to achieve dividends of greater magnitude.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2014