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Islamabad: Allegations of collusion between the timber mafia and officials of the Forest Department have surfaced following the illegal cutting of trees in the forests of Upper Moradabad, Dingian Kambart No. 3, Tehsil Chakar, District Jhelum Valley.
According to local sources, seven large and valuable Kayal trees were secretly felled under the cover of darkness on government-owned forest land, causing significant financial and ecological loss to the state and its residents. Environmental concerns have intensified as the destruction of forest cover threatens wildlife habitats and increases the risk of landslides in the mountainous region.
Residents of the area have strongly condemned the incident and urged the Minister for Forests of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Javed Ayub, and Secretary Forests, Chaudhry Muhammad Farid, to take immediate notice of the matter. They have called for strict legal action against those involved, including any officials found complicit, and demanded urgent measures to safeguard the remaining forests.
Locals emphasized that unchecked deforestation could lead to long-term environmental degradation and endanger communities living in vulnerable terrain, stressing the need for transparent investigation and effective forest protection policies.
