Tuesday, May 6, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 29, 1429    

FDC to close newly opened timber market

Staff Reporter

Peshawar—The Board of Directors of Forest Development Corporation (FDC) has decided to close down the newly established timber market at Tarnol Rawalpindi immediately. Due to this decision, the local timber markets will flourish as well as more employment opportunities will also be available to the local people.

The decision to this effect was made at the 37th meeting of Board of Directors of Forest Development Corporation at Peshawar on Monday. The meeting was presided over by the NWFP Minister for Environment and Forest, Wajid Ali Khan and was attended by its members including Secretary Environment Hussain Zada Khan, Managing Director PDC, Dr. Iqbal Sial, Chief Conservator Forest Muhammad Nazir Khan and representatives of Finance and Planning and Development Departments. The meeting constituted a committee for granting old age pension, graduity and medical allowance for low scale employees besides increasing salaries of contract employees. The committee will present its report in the next Board of Directors meeting in this regard.

The meeting also endorsed the decision of establishing wood seasoning plants at Chakdara and Goharabad Havelian to improve the quality and durability of wood used in furniture and construction while important decisions were taken in respect of commercial afforestation on the lands and mountains of Malakand and Hazara region. As a result thousands of area will come under forest besides ensuring environmental and financial benefit to the local people while the corporation will also be strengthened financially.

The meeting also decided to export the valuable and high quality species of timber to international market instead of selling it locally in order to generate more revenue. Budget for financial year 2006-07 was also approved on this occasion.