MANSEHRA/SWAT: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa climate change, forestry, environment and wildlife department has suspended two divisional forest officers for issuing timber transport passes in violation of a government ban on forest harvesting and timber transportation across the province last month.

The suspension of DFO Jawad Mumtaz of Siran in Mansehra and DFO Sardar Mohammad Saleem of Battagram came for 120 days for issuing “transport passes” for forest wood in their respective jurisdictions, according to a departmental notification, which has also been shared with the chief forest conservators across the province.

The action was taken under Section 6 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2011.

Officials told Dawn that the department would hold an inquiry the two officials and take punitive action if they’re found to be violating the ban.

Inquiry will be held against them by forestry dept

According to the notification, forest harvesting and timber transportation were banned by the government until June 25 but both officers violated the ban by issuing transport passes in their respective regions.

It added that DFO Siren forest division Jawad Mumtaz issued transport pass No 7 in June 2024, while DFO Hazara forest tribal divisions Battagram Sardar Mohammad Saleem issued transport pass No 1 on July 10, permitting the transportation of timber in breach of the ban on forest harvesting and transportation of timber.

The ban has led to rallies by the forest owners’ association across the province.

“The matter is sub judice as we have challenged this ban in the Peshawar High Court’s Abbottabad Circuit Bench,” KP Forest Owners Association president Salahuddin Khan told reporters in Mansehra.

In Swat, chief conservator of the forest department Asghar Khan on Thursday said there was a complete ban on both legal and illegal cutting of forests in the district like other parts of the province.

He, however, said some people were causing public outrage against the forest harvesting ban by sharing “old tree cutting and transportation videos” on social media.

Addressing a news conference in his office along with divisional forest officers Mohammad Waseem, Usman Khan and Shah Khalid, Mr Asghar said the KP minister of forests and the forest secretary had also banned tree cutting even under the “wood lot” law.

“Forests are the beauty of the region and our department is committed to protecting it,” he said.

The official said all necessary measures would be taken for the protection of forests in Malakand Division.

He said that the forest department was establishing a special desk in its Swat offices with officials available there round the clock.

“Anyone can share videos, photos, or news of tree felling with us. We will keep names of the complainants confidential but will ensure legal action against culprits,” he said.

He said in recent days, news regarding the felling of trees had been circulating on social media, but most of the locations shown were private woodlots of local people.

“Adequate measures are being taken at the government level to protect the forests. However, if anyone comes across such an incident, they should share it with the forest department,” he said.

He insisted that some old, foreign videos were “being spread” on social media by vested interests to show foreign forests as those of Kalam and other Swat areas.

He said Swat belonged to every Pakistan, so it was their collective responsibility to take steps for forest protection.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2024