MANSEHRA/SWAT: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, forestry, environment and wildlife department suspended two divisional forest officers for issuing timber transport passes in violation of a government ban on forest harvesting and timber transportation across the province last month.
The action was taken under Section 6 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2011.
As per Dawn.com report, DFO Jawad Mumtaz of Siran in Mansehra and DFO Sardar Mohammad Saleem of Battagram have been suspended for 120 days for issuing “transport passes” for forest wood in their respective jurisdictions, according to a departmental notification, which has also been shared with the chief forest conservators across the province.
According to the official notification, forest harvesting and timber transportation were banned by the government until June 25, but both officers violated the ban by issuing transport passes in their respective regions.
It added that DFO Siren Forest Division Jawad Mumtaz issued transport pass No. 7 in June 2024, while DFO Hazara Forest tribal divisions Battagram Sardar Mohammad Saleem issued transport pass No. 1 on July 10, permitting the transportation of timber in breach of the ban on forest harvesting and transportation of timber.
As reported, the ban led to rallies by the forest owners’ association across the province.