RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Forestry and Wildlife & Fisheries Yawar Zaman has stressed the need for running a robust programme to address the environmental problems and ensure progress of forestry, wildlife and fisheries sector.

He was speaking at a one-day workshop organised by the Punjab Forest Department on ‘Revamping of Forest Department’ which is aimed at revolutionizing the forest department and mainstreaming its development for the growth and prosperity of Punjab province.

Mian Waheed-ud-Din, Secretary Forestry Wildlife & Fisheries department; Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Pakistan; deputy secretaries, chief conservators, district forest officers, and especially the retired officers of the forest department also participated in it.

Since there is a room for improvement in every department, the current government strives to improve the lives of local populace and making necessary changes in the rules and regulations of various departments to meet peoples’ requirements.

The responsibilities of Punjab Forest Department include sustainable management of natural forests, increasing and subsequently improving the forest cover, protecting the land and allocated water resources, improvement in rangelands and provision of sustainable source of wood to meet national wood requirements, conservation of wildlife and improvement in fisheries production.

The Minister hoped this workshop will play an important role in devising such a robust programme, especially with regards to revamping department’s administrative structure, the upcoming provincial forest policy, ways to achieving maximum results and mobilizing media for raising forestry awareness among masses.