Lower Kohistan admin steps up forest fire prevention measures amid dry season risk

KOHISTAN, Jun 05 (APP):A high-level meeting on forest fire preparedness and emergency response was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Kohistan Lower Zohaib Hayat here Friday with a strong focus on protecting forests during the ongoing dry season.

A meeting was convened to review preparations and emergency response mechanisms aimed at preventing and controlling forest fires in Lower Kohistan.

The meeting was attended by the District Police Officer, Divisional Forest Officer, and representatives of relevant departments.

Officials revised the current situation of forest fires and discussed preventive strategies to minimize fire incidents during dry weather conditions. The Deputy Commissioner stressed that forest fires pose a serious threat to forest resources, wildlife, biodiversity, and the overall environment, requiring coordinated action from all departments.

DC directed that inter-departmental coordination be further strengthened and that rapid response teams remain on high alert, with continuous monitoring of vulnerable forest areas to ensure swift action in case of any incident.

It was also decided to launch a broad public awareness campaign through social, print, and electronic media to educate local communities about the causes of forest fires, preventive measures, and the importance of timely reporting.

Furthermore, all concerned departments were instructed to ensure the readiness of manpower, firefighting equipment, and communication systems to deal effectively with any emergency situation.

The Deputy Commissioner emphasized that collective efforts and close coordination among stakeholders are essential to reducing the risk of forest fires and protecting valuable forest ecosystems.