PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department has confiscated 6,770 cubic feet of illegally transported timber and 73,105 kilograms of fuel wood during 233 operations, while 59 vehicles involved in illegal transportation were seized in a crackdown on timber mafia and illegal timber smuggling.

A statement issued here said that law enforcement authorities had also arrested 53 offenders, dismantled 31 illegal saw machines and imposed fines amounting to Rs8.374 million during this month.

The statement further said that anti-smuggling campaign was initiated on the instructions of secretary forest KP Junaid Khan following reports and concerns circulating on social media regarding illegal cutting of timber and the unlawful movement of forest produces in different parts of the province.

Besides, it said that the Forest Department alone carried out 141 operations, confiscated 5,410 cubic feet of timber and 71,195 kilograms of fuel wood, seized 52 vehicles, registered multiple criminal cases and imposed fines exceeding Rs5.346 million.

Simultaneously, the district administration conducted 92 operations, recovered 1,360 cubic feet of timber and 1,910 kilograms of fuel wood, seized seven vehicles, registered criminal cases and imposed penalties worth more than Rs3 million.

These achievements underscore the effectiveness of coordinated enforcement efforts and the commitment of field staff operating under challenging conditions across diverse terrains.

As part of broader enforcement reforms, Secretary Junaid Khan also directed all Divisional Forest Officers to identify and report unauthorised sawmills operating within their jurisdictions and to submit digitised records of all legally licensed sawmills.

Furthermore, forest divisions have been instructed to undertake physical inspections of designated forest compartments using modern technologies including drones and satellite imagery to identify illegally cut timber and forest produce. He said any illegally acquired material detected through these inspections is to be confiscated immediately.

These measures are besides helping to curb illegal cutting will also contribute to protecting timber resources from anticipated monsoon floods and Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) events, which experts have warned may intensify due to above-average rainfall forecast this year.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2026