NAWABSHAH, Jan 6: A high-level inquiry has been initiated into the matter of illegal chopping of trees from the vicinity of Nawabshah airport.

Reliable sources told Dawn on Tuesday that hundreds of eucalyptus and other trees spreading over acres of land inside Nawabshah airport were chopped-off during the last couple of weeks allegedly in connivance with the airport officials.

Nawabshah airport was serves as an air base for Pakistan Air Force as well as an alternative airport of Karachi with tight security arrangements.

Sources informed that a vigilance team headed by Brig (retd) Asif Pervaiz, Director and Chief Security officer of the Civil Aviation Authority reached Nawabshah from Karachi and also seized few wood loaded trolleys.

The source further informed that a high level inquiry had been initiated into the matter.

Nawabshah Airport Manager, Illahi Bux Mahar, confirmed that a number of trees were chopped from the jurisdiction of airport.

He further said that a vigilance team headed by Brig (retd) Asif Pervaiz also reached Nawabshah and was investigating the matter.

He said that two agencies -- CAA and the PAF -- operate at the airport and the trees were not chopped from CAA operation area.

Repeated efforts to contact the base commander of PAF Nawabshah air base remained futile as the PAF exchange remained busy continuous the day.