Title Pakistan Forest Digest Issue 01- A4 - Pakistan Research Group

SDPISustainable Development Policy InstituteChapter 01Timber Mafia –Illegal Cutting & SmugglingCDA cut 14,428 trees in five years, Senate toldDaily Times Islamabad, April 02, 2010• Minister says 6,942 treesin urban areas and 60,000in slums of the federalcapital will be removed inphases• Water supply systembeing upgradedISLAMABD:CapitalDevelopment Authority (CDA) cutdown as many 14,428 treescausing pollen allergy inIslamabad during the last fiveyears, Minister in charge of theCabinet Division NawabzadaGhazanfer Gul told the Senate onThursday.Responding to a question duringthe question hour session, he saiddespite the efforts of theAuthority, still 6,942 trees in urbanareas and 60,000 in the slums ofthe federal capital existed.He said such trees in urban areasof Islamabad would be removedgradually in next three years, inphased manner to avoid loss ofgreen cover in Islamabad abruptly.Responding to supplementaryquestions, he said these trees weregradually being replaced withother environment-friendly treesso that the greenery of the FederalCapital could not affect.Houses: Replying to anotherquestion he said a total 1,791houses of different category standconstructed by CDA for itsemployees.He said 497 houses wereconstructed in Sector G-6, 446 inG-7, 93 in G-8, 417 in G-9, 130 inG-10, 108 in F-6, 15 in F-7, 79 inI-8, six in I-9 and six in G-6Doctor Colony.He said in deserving cases officersand officials were grantedextension under Rule 29-A ofAAR-2002. On completion ofextension period theaccommodation will be gotvacated and would be allotted toofficial requiring accommodation.Water supply: Responding toanother question, Gul saidIslamabad water supply systemwas being upgraded, reconstructedand rehabilitated.He said in order to meet waterdemand of the Federal Capital,CDA had made a proposal forexecution of water supply fromIndus River System at TarbelaDam to the twin cities ofIslamabad and Rawalpindi andupgrading water supply system.Members from NWFP raisedconcerns over water supply fromTarbela Dam, however the Leaderof the House Syed Nayyer HussainBokhari said the government wasconsidering the proposal and nounjust would be done with anyprovince. APPForest land retrieved from encroachersDawn Islamabad, May, 23, 2010By Abid Fazil Abbasi, MURREE,May 22: The ongoing landdemarcation being carried out bythe forest and revenue departmentson the directives of Lahore HighCourt in Murree has led toPakistan Forest Digest Vol. 1, No. 1, April – June, 2010