KP CM orders zero tolerance against timber mafia

PESHAWAR (Dunya News) – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has ordered a strict crackdown against the timber mafia, declaring zero tolerance for illegal tree cutting.

Chairing an important meeting of the Department of Climate Change, Forests, and Wildlife, the chief minister said forests are a national trust and their exploitation will not be tolerated. He directed that criminal cases be registered against those involved in illegal logging.

Afridi also ordered an extensive operation against illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking, directing authorities to immediately arrest and take stern legal action against those involved.

He emphasized that the KP government will ensure the protection of wildlife according to international standards. The provincial government has decided to introduce tougher legal reforms and harsher penalties to safeguard forests and wildlife, stating that the plundering of national resources due to legal loopholes is unacceptable.

The chief minister further instructed all relevant departments to identify gaps in existing laws and propose new measures to make forest and wildlife protection regulations more effective.