Jirga forms committees to protect forests

MANSEHRA: A jirga attended by all the five main tribes living in the Torghar district on Sunday constituted committees to protect forests in erstwhile a tribal district of Hazara division.

“These committees will safeguard forests across the district and trees could only be felled if the wood is needed for the construction of mosques and houses,” the local Member of Provincial Assembly Laiq Mohammad Khan told the jirga at his residence in the Chajar area.

The jirga was also attended, among others, by Chief Conservator of Forests Hazrat Mir.

“We have to protect forests from pollution, and hazardous free environment and you should come forward and join hands with the government in this exalted cause,” Laiq said.

He said that tribesmen with the help of committees constituted for each tribe and each village could approach the Forest department for permits for cutting of trees for construction of their houses and mosques.

The lawmaker said the violators of the ban imposed by the government would be punished under existing forest laws. “Don’t pay a single penny to any official and officers of Forest department for the permit which is your legal right, and even then someone creates hurdles in your way, I would take him to justice under strict relevant laws,” he said.

Laiq , who is also the chairman of Torghar’s District Development Advisory Committee, said that forests were assets owned jointly by tribesmen and the government.

The chief conservator of Forests told the jirga that the government had put in place a ban on deforestation and transportation and those found involved in timber smuggling and deforestation would be taken to justice under the relevant laws.

“If committees constituted here give a chit that woods are needed for constructions of houses or mosques, we would issue permits,” he said.