PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department has banned the transport of all timber products across the province. This pre-emptive move aims to protect the province’s fast-depleting green cover.
Consequently, this emergency measure will choke illegal timber smuggling channels during the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha holidays. Smugglers historically exploit this festive period because administrative oversight drops significantly.
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According to a fresh notification, credible intelligence reports triggered this administrative clampdown. These reports indicated that the local timber mafia had finalized plans to move logged wood during the holidays. Therefore, the provincial administration ordered all field formations to maintain a round-the-clock vigil. This order applies directly to divisional forest officers, subdivisional forest officers, and range guards.
Furthermore, the department blocked all staff leaves. Specifically, field officers cannot leave their duty stations without written permission from higher authorities.
“Forest thieves actively utilize official holidays to transport contraband wood,” a senior forestry official told Dawn. “Consequently, we will launch immediate disciplinary proceedings against any staff member showing negligence.”
In addition to these restrictions, all field personnel must keep their mobile numbers active 24 hours a day. Crucially, this constant connectivity allows teams to respond instantly to any actionable intelligence inputs.
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Squads Monitor Strategic Routes and Enforce Strict Penalties
Meanwhile, the forest department has mapped out high-risk transit corridors to intercept suspicious vehicles. Indeed, the provincial apparatus plans to sustain an aggressive posture against environmental degradation.
The directive outlines a clear operational framework for the field squads:
- Border Interdictions: First, dedicated checkpoints will inspect commercial vehicles at all provincial exit points to counter timber smuggling.
- Suspension of Leaves: Second, the department cancelled routine leaves for essential field workers. Unfortunately, administrative gaps during past holidays often led to severe tree felling.
- Empowered Patrols: Finally, specialized mobile squads will patrol vulnerable forest reserves. Crucially, these squads hold the power to seize vehicles and detain individuals.
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In conclusion, the provincial government is taking no chances with its ecological resources. Moving forward, the administration expects unwavering compliance from its field staff to dismantle illegal wood transit networks entirely.
