The forest department rest house in Bhurban. — Dawn
The forest department rest house in Bhurban. — Dawn

MURREE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar on Sunday announced the opening of the governor house in Bhurban to the public.

However, after the announcement he was informed that the building was a forest department rest house, not a governor house.

When the governor made the announcement at a press conference on Sunday, he was informed by the forest department officials that the building he had announced open to the public was actually a rest house.

A source in the forest department said the governor then called the secretary of the forest department and told him that he had made the announcement on the direction of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

But the secretary also confirmed that the building was a rest house of the forest department.

The forest house at Bhurban was constructed in 1909 for the residence of high ranking officials mainly from the forest department.

It served as the rest house till 2002 when the then Punjab governor retired Gen Khalid Maqbool acquired it as the governor’s annex.

But in 2013, on the direction of the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, a frequent visitor to the rest house,the Punjab government issued a notification restoring the status of the forest rest house.

This was stated by Divisional Forest Officer Raza Sheikh while talking to Dawn.

Mr Sheikh explained that under the Punjab Forest Act 2009, forest land cannot be used for any other purpose, adding the rest house cannot be converted into a governor house.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...