Chitral Times Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has termed the protection of forest and wild life as one of the key focused areas of his government and directed the high ups of Forest and Wildlife Department for coordinated and concerted measures under a well devised strategy further directing to start practical work on the installation of CCTV cameras in forest check posts and strengthening the capacity of forest guards across the province. He issued these directives while chairing a meeting of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife and Biodiversity Board here the other day. Besides provincial minister for forest, Ishtiaq Urmar, Chief Secretary Dr. Kazim Niaz and Secretary Forest Islam Zeb, the meeting was attended by other members of the board.
The chair also directed the high ups for result oriented steps for setting up private sector Game Reserves in suitable places in the province with the aim to preserve the unique and rich biodiversity of the province further directing them to encourage private sector investment for the purpose. The meeting approved constitution of a Research Committee of the board for research oriented input to the department for the protection and enchantment of wild life. The meeting principally approved establishment of Wildlife and Biodiversity Fund and directed the quarters concerned to table the matter before the provincial cabinet for formal approval. Talking on this occasion, the chair underlined the participation of local communities to protect forest and wildlife and directed the concerned authorities for necessary steps to engage local communities for the purpose. He also stressed the need for restructuring the Wildlife and Biodiversity Board to include maximum number of experts of the relevant field, researchers and social scientists in it with the aim to give it more effective role for the protection of wildlife. On this occasion the Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to ensure the holding of quarterly meetings of all the boards of provincial government.
