PESHAWAR, Oct 3: The NWFP Minister for Environment and Forests, Shah Raz Khan, has taken strict notice of illegal cutting of trees and directed the officers of his department to take stern action against violators.

He issued the directive while presiding over a meeting on environment and forests related problems in Chitral at the Civil Secretariat, Peshawar, on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by District Nazim of Chitral Maghfirat Shah, secretary environment Noorul Haq, chief conservator forests Dr Muhammad Iqbal Sial and representative of the Forest Development Corporation.

Mr Shah said the MMA government in collaboration with local community was taking concrete measures for the protection and promotion of forests and wildlife as a result the forests covered area in the province had increased manifold.

He said that the provincial government had chalked out projects worth millions of rupees with financial assistance of international organisation for the promotion and conservation of forest, wildlife and other natural resources in Chitral and on completion of these projects, not only environmental pollution would be controlled but job opportunities also be created.

The meeting decided that the department would give due share to the local community of Chitral in the wood cut after the approval of the provincial government.—APP