PESHAWAR: The climate change, forestry and environment department has suspended seven officials in the Khyber tribal district for their failure to stop the illegal transportation of timber at Bigyari forest checkpost.

The department has also constituted a fact-finding committee to probe further into the matter, according to a notification issued here on Tuesday.

An official of the department said the Khyber district administration had sealed two godowns of illegal timber smuggled from Tirah valley. “The department suspended the forester/range officer, three foresters and three forest guards for a period of three months as they failed to stop the timber smuggling,” he added.

The official said to further probe the matter, the department had also constituted a fact-finding committee consisting of conservator forest, Kohat circle, Fazal Elahi as convener and divisional forest officer, Peshawar, Tariq Khadim as its member.

“The inquiry committee shall probe the matter and submit its report containing clear recommendations within two weeks for further action,” the notification said.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2023