MANSEHRA: The Lower Kohistan administration on Friday evolved a comprehensive strategy to prevent wildfires and protect the district’s flora and fauna from such incidents.
“The government wants strict punitive action against those involved in setting forests on fire, causing damage to flora and fauna. We also need to involve local communities living near forests to prevent the dumping of inflammable materials and other combustible waste in wooded areas,” Lower Kohistan Deputy Commissioner Zuhaib Hayat told a meeting.
The district police officer, divisional forest officer, heads of various government departments and members of local communities attended the meeting.
“Wildfires not only cause extensive damage to forests and pollute the environment, but also pose a serious threat to biodiversity, which is fundamental to the coexistence of humans and other living creatures,” Mr Hayat said.
The deputy commissioner said that strong coordination should be developed among relevant departments to ensure a swift and effective response to wildfire incidents across the district.
KKH BLOCKADE CONTINUES: The Lower Kohistan district administration on Friday took notice of the blockade of the Karakoram Highway, and directed the Hazara Electric Supply Company (Hazeco) to ensure the early supply of electricity to consumers from the Dubair Khawar hydropower station to help reopen the highway, which has been blocked by people for the last three days, suspending traffic between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Wapda should honour the agreement it signed with the residents of Kohistan in 2015 regarding the power supply to help lift the KKH blockage to allow passengers to travel between KP and GB, DC Zuhaib Hayat told a meeting attended by officials of Hazesco, police and other departments.
The deputy commissioner summoned the Hazeco superintending engineer to his office and sought the company’s response regarding the supply of electricity to consumers in Lower Kohistan and Kolai-Palas districts from the Dubair-Khawar station.
“Most of the construction and technical work on the 132kV grid station in Lower Kohistan has been completed, and we are also moving machinery, equipment and labour to ensure the remaining work is completed at the earliest,” the Hazeco official told the meeting.
The deputy commissioner directed Hazeco officials to ensure the early completion of the grid station and connect it with the power plant to supply electricity to consumers in both districts.
Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2026