THE erstwhile Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), especially the Waziristan district, is home to natural mountainous trees. Waziristan is moving towards complete deforestation because of poverty in the region and the absence of natural gas and electricity facilities.

The residents of Murree and Abbottabad are facilitated with gas and electricity, but the poor people of ex-Fata are deprived of such utilities. These disparities must end. Hundreds of trucks export the wood of Fata to Afghanistan due to which the area is losing its natural beauty. The poverty of people and the corruption of border officials are responsible for this activity.

The government needs to provide facilities and curb malpractices. The residents of the area hope that the government will take action and fulfil its vision of ‘Green Pakistan’.

Fida Hussain Wazir

South Waziristan

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2021