Residents ask govt to stop deforestation in Paktika

SHARAN (Pajhwok): Residents of southern Paktika province say jungle trees in their areas are being cut down by powerful figures and people for selling them as firewood, asking the government to stop the illegal practice.

Niamatullah Zadran, a resident of Zirok district of Paktika, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Argun, Sarobi, Neka, Ziruk, Giyan, Barmal, Gumal, Omna and Warmami districts have forests but some powerful figures and local people have recently started brutally cutting them down.

“Strongmen and poor people in Ziruk district cut green trees and sell them as firewood after drying them in order to earn some money,” he said.

 Unfortunately the government has failed to stop this process and the area would be fully deforested if the illegal logging is not controlled, he added.

Ghazi Zadran, a resident of Giyan district, also said that forests in their area were brutally cut down by local people.

He said hundreds of trucks loaded with wood from their jungles were sent to other provinces and Pakistan as firewood but the government was doing nothing to control it.

Wali Rahman, another resident of the district, also said that their jungles were transported to other provinces and Pakistan after being cut down and dried up by local people.

Mohammad Jan, a resident of Pirkoti village of Argun district, said that a tribal plan had been devised to stop deforestation in the area.

On the other hand, Paktika agriculture director Subat Rahimi acknowledged jungles were illegal cut down in some districts of the province.

He said they would use all necessary measures to prevent the illegal deforestation.

mds/ma