Pakistan’s president and prime minister have stressed the importance of tree plantations and developing forest resources to meet fuel and timber needs and ensure sustainable development.
Speaking at the launch of the spring tree plantation campaign, president Musharraf said Pakistan lacked forest resources, with cover on only 4.4 million ha, covering 5% of the total area.
Forest cover needs to be increased to meet demands for timber for firewood and construction he said, urging everyone to join forces with the government to promote forestry and conserve the environment.
Prime minister Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan had to play its role in global efforts to preserve biodiversity, arrest land degradation and mitigate climate change through expanding forest cover of the country.
Meanwhile, it has been alleged that timber worth more than Rs1bn has been smuggled from the forests of Kohistan in Northern Pakistan to Punjab in recent months.
Deodar wood is apparently being disguised as fir and transported along the Karakorm highway to Punjab with the knowledge of forestry officials.
It is claimed that smugglers and dishonest officials are taking advantage of the fact that there is currently no provincial chief conservator of forests to control activities.
