BAJAUR: The local forest department on Friday launched a scheme to graft thousands of wild olive trees under the provincial government’s ‘Climate Resilience through Horticultural Interventions Programme’ in Bajaur tribal district.

The scheme commenced from the hilly Salarzai tehsil, according to a statement issued from the local forest department office in Khar.

Several grafting experts and officials of the forest department are taking part in the scheme, in which thousands of wild olive trees across the district would be grafted.

The statement described the scheme a landmark contributing to climate resilience and improving the socioeconomic conditions of thousands of local farmers.

“There is great importance of horticulture in the local community’s livelihoods, and this scheme will further boost their socioeconomic situation as every area in the district has large number of wild olive trees,” the statement said.

MARBLE DISPUTE: The elders of two rival tribes in Salarzai tehsil on Friday agreed to settle their longstanding dispute over marble mining through talks.

The elders from Naraza area made the decision after a team of police officials and elders held a meeting with them, according to a statement issued from the office of the district police officer.

It said the members of the joint team held separate meetings with the elders from both the tribes to convince them to resolve the dispute through peaceful means.

During the meetings, team members informed the elders that the dispute had serious consequences for the local community.

The statement said elders of rival groups, who had earlier refused to resolve the issue through negotiations, opted to resolve the dispute through peaceful means after they were warned of consequences if they took law in to their own hands.

The statement said it was decided in the meetings that a proper agreement regarding the settlement of the dispute would be inked at a jirga to be held on July 20.

The meeting said a huge tract of land belonging both the tribes, which had been lying uncultivated for several years, would be allowed for cultivation.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2023