PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Mian Iftikhar Hussain has expressed concern over reports of large-scale deforestation and alleged smuggling of valuable timber in parts of Chitral and Upper Dir, questioning the provincial government’s response to the reported illegal activities.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, he said the province was already grappling with law and order problems, corruption scandals and an administrative crisis, while reports of illegal tree cutting and timber smuggling had raised more questions about the government’s performance.

He alleged that the chief minister, ministers and advisers were preoccupied with political manoeuvring instead of protecting the province’s natural resources.

Mr Hussain said reports had emerged of extensive tree felling in various areas of Drosh tehsil in Chitral district, along with the alleged illegal transportation of valuable timber. Citing local sources, he said timber smugglers were using newly established routes through Godebar to transport the wood.

He questioned why those responsible were not being held accountable if the reported activities were taking place under official supervision.

The ANP leader also referred to allegations of possible complicity by Forest Department officials, particularly block officers, and said the complaints warranted serious attention. He called for transparent investigations into the matter.

Citing videos and photographs circulating on social media, he expressed serious concern over the reported deforestation and urged the provincial government to identify and hold those responsible accountable instead of remaining a silent spectator.

Mr Hussain said local residents claimed that valuable timber worth billions of rupees was present in the forests of Chitral and Upper Dir and that efforts were allegedly being made to transport it through mountain passes before the first snowfall of winter.

He demanded of the provincial government to immediately take notice of the reported deforestation and alleged timber smuggling in Chitral and Upper Dir, order a high-level inquiry and take indiscriminate legal action against anyone found involved, including government officials. “Provincial resources are a public trust, not the property of any mafia,” he concluded.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2026