Staff Correspondent
CHITRAL: Environmental monitors and community leaders have called on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and law enforcement agencies to take immediate action to prevent the illegal transportation of timber from Arandu Gol in Lower Chitral.
The appeal comes amid renewed concerns over illegal logging, forest degradation and the reported stockpiling of large quantities of illegally felled timber at different locations in the Arandu Gol.
Community representatives claim that substantial timber stocks are present at Chatarbat summer pastures in Arandu Gol and the Godebar area near Damel Nisar. They fear that timber operators may attempt on the illegal transportation of timber through light commercial vehicles towards Zarkhana in Upper Dir before winter snowfall closes the mountain passes.
Community representatives have urged the relevant authorities to conduct immediate on-ground inspections to establish the facts and take action in accordance with the law.
Forest Destruction in Arandu Gol
The latest appeal follows longstanding concerns about forest destruction in Arandu Gol. Earlier reporting based on satellite imagery indicated substantial forest-cover loss in the region over the past two decades. Forest Department lists cited in that reporting also identified significant quantities of illegally felled timber in the area.
Local elders reiterated their concerns during a meeting in Chitral on November 9, 2026, demanding action against illegal timber interests and transparency in the distribution of forest royalty.
Community representatives said enforcement efforts had gained momentum during the tenure of former Deputy Commissioner Lower Chitral Rao Hashim Azeem and continued under his successor, Deputy Commissioner Maqbool Hussain.
They expressed concern that the deputy commissioner’s hospitalization following a road accident in the Lowari Tunnel could create a temporary gap in administrative oversight. They stressed that monitoring and enforcement activities should continue without interruption.
Questions Raised Over Timber Transportation
Local residents have also called for stricter monitoring of check posts along the Arandu-Drosh transit corridor to prevent the possible transportation of illegally harvested timber.
Community sources have raised concerns about alleged weaknesses in surveillance and accountability at different points along the route, particularly in areas connecting Lower Chitral with Upper Dir.
They have also called for an independent administrative review of allegations that informal dispute-resolution mechanisms, including forums associated with the police-led Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) system, may be used to settle commercial timber disputes outside formal legal procedures.
No specific case has been identified in the allegations, which require independent investigation.
Civil Society Demands Govt Intervention
Civil society representatives and conservation advocates have urged the Provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Forest Department and law enforcement agencies to take the following measures:
- Immediately inspect reported timber stocks at Chatarbat, Godebar and other summer pasture locations in Arandu Gol.
- Strengthen surveillance along high-altitude routes connecting Lower Chitral and Upper Dir, particularly around Chatarbat, Godebar and Zarkhana.
- Conduct an independent review of forest personnel and check-post operations along suspected timber transportation routes.
- Investigate the alleged misuse of local dispute-resolution forums in commercial timber-related matters.
- Seize and audit any illegally held or unregistered timber stocks in accordance with the law.
Community leaders say the coming days are critical because winter snowfall could restrict access to remote mountain locations and make the inspection and monitoring of timber stocks increasingly difficult.
Tree Plantation Cannot Replace Natural Forests
Meanwhile, Adil Zareef, founding member of the Sarhad Conservation Network (SCN), has emphasized that large-scale tree plantation campaigns cannot compensate for the destruction of mature natural forests.
He maintains that promoting plantation drives while ancient natural forests continue to be dismantled amounts to little more than cosmetic greenwashing.
A newly planted sapling, he argues, cannot replace an ancient forest, its complex biodiversity or the ecological functions developed over centuries.
According to Zareef, the immediate priority must be the protection of existing natural forests, prevention of illegal logging and accountability for those responsible for forest destruction and Illegal transportation of timber.
Community representatives have stressed that protecting Arandu Gol’s remaining forests is essential not only for biodiversity and environmental sustainability but also for safeguarding the lawful rights and economic interests of local communities.
They have called for urgent administrative intervention, transparent forest royalty distribution and strict enforcement of forest protection laws before winter closes the region’s mountain routes.
Issued by: Sustainable Conservation Network (SCN)
Date: November 10, 2026
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