PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has taken notice of illegal cutting of forests in Saidu Sharif, Swat and ordered inquiry into the matter.
In a statement in Peshawar, he said the inquiry report should be presented within a day.
The Chief Minster said cutting of forest will not be allowed under any circumstance.
The Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary to suspend the district forest officer (DFO) Swat and stop forthwith the felling.
He also ordered an enquiry into the illegal cutting of trees and directed the Swat deputy commissioner to submit the inquiry report within 24 hours, said a handout.
The chief minister deplored that the provincial government had repeatedly issued instructions against the illegal and unscientific cutting of forests as it threatened the environmental degradation, adding that the cutting of trees was an unaffordable act.
He said there was a complete ban on the cutting of trees and he would never allow deforestation. The chief minister warned that a stern action would be taken against the elements involved in the illegal forests cutting leading to deforestation in the province.
