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PESHAWAR, Jul 30 (APP):A meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly’s standing committee on forests, environment, wildlife, and climate change was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Member Provincial Assembly Iftikhar Ali Mashwani.
The meeting was attended by committee members, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Forests and Environment Peer Maswar Khan, Abdul Salam Afridi, Sher Ali Afridi, Mian Sharafat, Secretary of Forests Shahid Zaman, senior officials from the concerned departments, representatives from the Law Department, and officers of the Provincial Assembly.
During the meeting, a detailed briefing was given on the scope, responsibilities, performance, future goals, windfall policy, and scientific management of the Pakistan Forest Institute and Forest Development Corporation.
An in-depth discussion on the establishment of a tribunal headed by the Secretary of Forests for the Department of Forests and Environment, auction of timber stock in the Chakdara depot, and ongoing tree plantation campaigns were made.
Secretary Forests Shahid Zaman informed the committee that the department has successfully achieved several targets, including plantation campaigns, which have been acknowledged at the international level.
Regular meetings are being held with international organizations on various projects. He assured the committee of a detailed briefing in the next meeting regarding the achievements, ongoing projects, and future roadmap of the Forest Department and its affiliated bodies.
Chairman of the Committee, Iftikhar Ali Mashwani, directed the establishment of depots and issuance of licenses for those involved in the eucalyptus tree business in Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, and Peshawar.
This initiative would not only facilitate the business community but also generate significant revenue for the government. The Secretary of Forests assured that this would be implemented on a priority basis.
The committee also directed the concerned authorities to present the FDC Act in the next meeting and to take further steps for additional plantation along the Hazara Motorway and other major highways.