PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Provincial Minister for Environment and Forests, Syed Ishtiaq Umar, on Sunday said that a grand operation against timber mafia, plastic bags and illegal saw machines was in the offing to protect the province’s green imperative and counter the growing effects of global warming and climate change.
Talking to APP, he said that the government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against timber smuggling and would soon launch a grand operation against timber mafia in all districts of the province.
He said that elements involved in the unlawful cutting of trees would not be spared and a strict action would be taken against them under the revised Forest Act 1927.
The minister said that an Environmental Tribunal had been set up in Peshawar to decide cases related to environmental disputes while adding that the government will also be launching a decisive crackdown against plastic bags and stone crushing machines in the city as they are a major cause of water and environmental pollution.
He said that the KP government has attached great importance to strengthening the furniture sector keeping its significant contribution to the country’s exports and economy in view.
“To encourage the furniture industry, wood processing units at Havalian and Manshera have been strengthened,” he said while adding that the Forests Development Corporation (FDC) has been empowered to facilitate people associated with furniture industry.
Saying that no one can compete with Pakistani local handmade furniture because of its better quality, craftsmanship and designs, he explained how the furniture industry was being empowered. “The Billion Trees Tsunami Afforestation Project (BTTAP), a flagship project of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, has revitalised the dwindling furniture industry in KP as a substantial amount of timber is now available for domestic and commercial consumption in local markets at an affordable rate,” he said.
“BTTAP has provided the much-needed stability to the furniture industry, besides countering challenges of environmental pollution, desertification, climate change and also strengthening honey and non-wood timber businesses,” he added.
