MANSEHRA: The forest department officials seized a large quantity of timber allegedly cut illegally from the forests of Siren Valley to smuggle it to other parts of the Hazara division.

“We have seized high-quality wood cut from Siren Valley forests, and sealed saw machines operating without lawful authority,” Divisional Forest Officer of Siren forest division Amanullah Khan told reporters on Friday. He said that the chief secretary had issued directives to launch a crackdown on people involved in deforestation and timber smuggling.

“In pursuance of the orders, we have launched a joint crackdown along with police and seized logs and beams from different points,” Mr Khan said.

He said that a joint team of police and forest department officials, after covering difficult mountainous terrain, raided places where illegally cut logs and timber had been dumped. “We conducted raids at various points and seized a huge quantity of logs, which were later transported to the forest department’s godown,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2026