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

SDPISustainable Development Policy Instituterisen in Tarbela Lake it has become an easy route for timber smugglers. The present DFO hasbeen transferred but through connection among high ups he has been able to avert his posting.People of the area are angry over the timber smuggling. The high officials of the forestdepartment should take immediate action to stop waste of this national wealth and the routesused for smuggling should be checked strictly. Action should be taken against the DFO andother officials of the department.Dhadar: Officials at check post have given free handto timber smugglersOfficials are busy in pocketing money; forests are turning into barren landsDaily Shamal, Abbottabad, May 23, 2010Pakhal, (Shamal Correspondent)Dhadar check post has turned intoa gold mine for the officials offorest department. Recklesscutting of forests is continuing inDhadar and adjoining areas.Dhadar check post is just there inname. Timber smugglers havebeen given a free hand. Theofficials stop small amount oftimber or items made of woodcarried by common people buttimber smugglers are able to passtruckloads of timber. The staffposted at the check post is fillingits own pocket. Officials must payattention to this situation.Cutting of trees in Konish valley should be stoppedDaily Shamal, Abbottabad, May 26, 2010Editorial: According to a report cutting of trees in Konish valley is continuing unabatedly.Hundreds of trees are being cut every day in the presence of the forest guard. Secret sources haverevealed that forest guards give free hand to the smugglers for a small amount of money and theowners are helpless in this situation. The political representatives appoint a new DFO everymonth but the staff members who have been destroying the forests remain unchanged for years.Political representatives give no importance to the staff but they appear to be most active indestroying the forests. Forest guards even help the timber smugglers in cutting the trees. Thepeople of the area are of the view that protection of forests is not possible unless the lower staff ofthe forest department is replaced and stringent action is taken against them. It is the forest guardswho protect the forests but on receiving bribe they report to the higher officials that everythingwas fine. The high officials of the forest department must take immediate action against theseelements. Immediate action should be taken against those staff members who collaborate withsmugglers in cutting of trees. If the same activity continues then forests will soon turn into emptyfields. Waste of national wealth is continuing. Officials of the forest department must payattention to this situation immediately.Sarai Naimat Khan: Truck loaded with timber slippedinto gorge. 1 killed 4 seriously injuredDaily Shamal, Abbottabad May 30, 2010Sarai Naimat Khan (SpecialReporter) One person was killedand four others were seriouslyinjured as a truck loaded withtimber tipped at Kakotari road.Mohammad Siddiq was buried inhis ancestral village ManglorColony.According to the details a truckcarrying timber from Bhabsar toHaripur fell in a deep gorge. As aresult Mohammad Siddiq who wassitting on the truck was thrownseveral feet away and sufferedserious injuries. He was taken tothe AMC Abbottabad but he couldnot survive. The truck driver andother three people have beenadmitted in the AMC Abbottabad.Pakistan Forest Digest Vol. 1, No. 1, April – June, 2010