ISLAMABAD: Timber smugglers in Chitral have become active to counter a potential crackdown by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, following satellite imagery revealing large-scale destruction of forests in Arandu, once a lush green valley along the Afghan border in southwestern Chitral.

A delegation of leaders from various political parties and environment activists in Chitral recently met the chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and lodged a complaint regarding the unabated activities of timber smugglers that caused irreparable destruction to forests of Lower Chitral over the years.

One of the members of the delegation, former PML-N MNA Shahzada Iftikharuddin, told Dawn that the chief secretary was briefed on the timber smuggling network operating in Arandu Gol, where satellite imagery indicated a dramatic loss of forest cover over the past two decades.

The data revealed that approximately 35 per cent of the forest cover, estimated at 164,000 hectares, had disappeared in Arandu Gol alone between 2004 and 2025. The market value of the lost forest resources is estimated to exceed Rs100 billion.

Locals demand probe into irregularities in royalty payments

In response, he said, the chief secretary ordered a crackdown to dismantle the timber smuggling racket. Verified lists from forest department showed that 10 individuals were currently in possession of approximately 1.47 million illegally felled trees stocked in Arandu Gol, with an estimated market value of Rs10 billion.

He said that individuals linked to the illegal felling started lobbying to obtain permission to sell the confiscated timber in the area before any action was taken against them. He added that timber smugglers based in Swat and Peshawar were attempting to avoid the crackdown, using various tactics, including falsely blaming Taliban activity for the deforestation in the area.

The former MNA stated that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, in its earlier replies submitted to Federal Ministry of Climate Change and Prime Minister’s Inspection Team, claimed that no deforestation had occurred in Chitral after 2010. However, publicly available independent satellite imagery clearly indicated that forest loss had continued over the years.

Satellite imagery also showed a possible correlation between deforestation and a recent avalanche in the nearby Serigal Valley, which claimed nine lives. Locals said that the valley had no recorded history of avalanches over the past century prior to the extensive forest loss.

Apart from illegally felling green trees, timber smugglers have also been accused of depriving local communities of their rightful share of forest royalty funds. Communities have filed complaints with deputy commissioner’s office regarding alleged irregularities in royalty payments from timber lots auctioned at Chakdara depot.

The complainants alleged that affidavits were used to deny local communities their lawful royalty shares.

Under royalty purchase agreements, local communities were paid Rs350 per cubic foot (cft) for timber, compared to an estimated market price of Rs14,500 per cft. This pricing structure enables intermediaries to retain about Rs14,150 per cft – nearly 90 per cent of the proceeds.

The political representatives also called upon the prime minister and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister to order investigations through National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and trace financial transactions linked to alleged irregularities in royalty payments.

They also demanded seizure of illegal timber lying in the area and legal action against individuals involved in illegal felling and timber business.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2026