BAJAUR: Expressing concern over deforestation in Barang hilly region, the authorities on Tuesday asked the residents to immediately stop illegal cutting of trees.

The directive was issued by Nawagai subdivision assistant commissioner Habibullah Khan Wazir in a meeting with elders of the region where PTI MNA Gul Dad Khan and MPA Ajmal Khan were also present besides officials of the local forest department.

Addressing the meeting, the AC said that the administration through forest department and other sources had received information about the illegal cutting of trees in the region.

He said that besides other trees the residents had also started cutting of trees planted by the forest department several years ago.

He said that cutting of trees planted by the forest department in the area was an unlawful act and action would be taken to stop this.

The elders were told that cutting of a large number of trees had badly disappointed both the district administration and forest department.

Mr Wazir told the elders that forests were essential for clean environment and socioeconomic development of the region and as such the administration would not allow anyone to cut the trees illegally.

He said that both the federal and provincial governments on the request of district administration had planned to promote forestry in Barang area.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2020