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

SDPISustainable Development Policy Instituteruthlessly. Large amount oftimber is being smuggled usingmules, horses and donkeys. Alarge amount of Diyar wood islying at Bunil Sayyadan andsearch for its buyers is on. AtBasu also an illegal depot has beenset up for sale of timber. Theforest officials are taking fulladvantage of weak administrationof conservator of Hazara Division.According to sources if thesituation remainsunchanged Honahreserve forests willbecome empty landverysoon.Illegal cutting of forests in Shergarh:Inquiry launched against the accused persons; statements of officials recordedDaily Shamal, Abbottabad, June 27, 2010Oghi (Shamal Correspondent) DFO Oghi RangeManzoor Ahmed has been appointed inquiry officersfor the investigation of corruption and damage toforests in Shergarh range. Questioning of the accusedpersons and forest officials continued yesterday. Theinquiry into losses will be made public. Evidence willbe brought forth and action will be taken against theforest guard who was allegedly involved in recklesscutting of forests in Shergarh range three years ago.Influential timber mafia succeeded in smuggling outtimber worth 2 million rupeesTimber mafia concealed its container after bribing forest officialsDaily Shamal, Abbottabad, June 29, 2010Ghazi (Crime Reporter) Influentialtimber mafia is flouting the lawand has brazenly smuggled timberworth 2 million rupees to Lahore.The forest officials received bribeand deprived the provincialgovernment of the moneycollected in the form of fine.According to the details two daysago container number P 8884, thatwas allowed to go after takingbribe, was caught again on theinstruction of DPO Haripur andimpounded at the police station inthe presence of mediarepresentatives.Last night the container wasunloaded in the presence of mediapersons at the sensitive policestation of Tarbela Cantt. Asnothing illegal was found in thecontainer it is believed that the carthat was said to be escorting thecontainer had already done itswork. It is worth mentioning herethat the timber mafia had obtaineda permit for transporting timber.Number of logs loaded on thecontainer was 239.Haripur: Police officials also involved in timbersmugglingTimber smuggling should be curbed and stringent action should be takenagainst the officials involved: public circlesDaily Shamal, Abbottabad, June 29, 2010Haripur (Special Correspondent) Afew of the police officials inHaripur are also involved in timbersmuggling. A few officials of thepolice stations, specially oneMoharrir (report writer) isinvolved in this business.According to the details, sourcessay that a few of the policeofficials in Haripur are fullyinvolved in timber smuggling.Sources have informed that thepolice officials keep the timbersmuggled through Bair andTarbela Lake in their own houses.This wood is then sold at highrates. People of Haripur havelodged strong protest against thisPakistan Forest Digest Vol. 1, No. 1, April – June, 2010