PESHAWAR, April 21: The NWFP forestry roundtable, a think-tank of the provincial government, has finalized criteria for selecting a panel for setting in place the NWFP forestry commission - a requirement which remains to be fulfilled under an act of the provincial assembly since 1999.

The forestry roundtable, which was reconstituted in line with the NWFP Forestry Act, 1999, after remaining dormant for a couple of years, met here on Wednesday for the second time since its establishment few months back.

After discussing various issues and controversies relating to its own functioning, non-existent rules to conduct its own business and the establishment of the NWFP forestry commission, the roundtable agreed to a criteria for selecting a panel of six nominees for the purpose of forwarding it to the chief minister.

Under section 3 (4) of the forestry commission act, the NWFP chief minister is supposed to appoint a three-member forestry commission out of the six nominees to be recommended by the forestry roundtable.