Islamabad, Jan 19, 2026: The federal government has sought an urgent report from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government about the illegal logging, forest destruction and timber smuggling in the Arandu area of Chitral district.
According to a letter issued by the Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) on December 22, 2025, verified information gathered during monitoring of development projects indicated that timber was being smuggled from Arandu Gol under the guise of an existing timber policy. The commission warned that illegal logging in the environmentally sensitive region was causing severe forest damage, leading to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity and increased risks of floods and landslides.
In a follow-up letter dated January 14, 2026, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination informed the KP chief secretary that no response had been received despite the passage of over two weeks. The ministry directed the district administration and KP Forest Department to review the matter on a priority basis and submit a detailed report on legal and administrative action taken within seven days.
Responding to the allegations, KP Secretary Forests Junaid Khan denied ongoing illegal logging, stating that a complete ban is in force across the province with strict enforcement measures. He acknowledged that the Arandu issue had remained unresolved for years and said a comprehensive policy would be formulated in consultation with all stakeholders. He also revealed that around 1.4 million cubic feet of timber had been cut in the area in the past but insisted that no illegal logging is currently taking place.
Meanwhile, the Up-Scaling Green Pakistan Project has been tasked with conducting an independent assessment of the site.
Related:
Chitral timber mafia making hay out of govt’s ‘windfall policy’.
Govt hands in glove with timber mafia in destroying Chitral’s forests.