Penalty for tree cutting to get tougher | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Penalty for tree cutting to get tougher

Pakistan Press Foundation

LAHORE: A meeting presided over by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday decided to enhance punishment for cutting trees through an amendment in the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Act 2012.

The Parks and Horticulture Authority Director General, MNA Jaffer Iqbal, Inspector General of Police Mushtaq Sukhera, PHA Vice Chairman Iftikhar Ahmed, Lahore commissioner and the LDA director general were also present.

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It was decided in the meeting that summary trials would be held for those found cutting trees. They could face imprisonment of at least three days and Rs50,000 fine.

Permission for purchase of modern transplanters to move trees from one place to another and setting up of a nursery in Jallo Park was also granted at the meeting.

The chief minister said the Punjab was a beautiful province with a colourful landscape. “The cities are getting bigger and it is increasingly difficult to curb pollution,” he said. “It was always been a priority of the government to ensure greenery in cities,” he said. “This is why trees must be planted on road dividers,” he said. The chief minister said following the amendment in the PHA Act 2012, strict enforcement of the law should be ensured. He said saplings and ivy should also be planted were possible along drains. He said that walls around flyovers and underpasses should be festooned with plants.

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Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday that the steps taken under the National Action Plan had effectively curbed terrorism and violent extremism in the province.

He was addressing an apex committee meeting with Corps Commander Lt General Sadiq Ali.

The meeting reviewed measures for security and counterterrorism under the NAP and expressed satisfaction with the steps taken to curb terrorism in the province.

The chief minister said there was a need to accelerate efforts under the National Action Plan to eliminate terrorism, extremism and sectarianism. He said activities of banned outfits should be checked.

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The chief minister said the sacrifices of those who had laid down their lives for the country would not be forgotten. He also said indiscriminate action against enemies of the state would continue.

“We will root out terrorism and sectarianism. This war will continue until we are victorious,” he said.

He said the military and civilian leaders were united in their stand against extremism.

Earlier, Lt Gen Sadiq Ali gave a briefing to the Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the steps taken by Pakistan Army in the Punjab under National Action Plan for the elimination of terrorism.

The chief minister paid rich tributes to the sacrifices of the officers and jawwans of Pakistan Army.

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“Our soldiers are writing a new chapter of courage and bravery. The nation is proud of their determination,” he said. He said Pakistan Army had successfully broken terrorist networks through Operation Zarb-i-Azb. Participants of the meeting also prayed for Mariam Mukhtiar, the PAF pilot whose jet crashed in Mianwali recently. The chief minister said the country needed more brave women like her. “Women should step up and take an active role in eliminating terrorism,” he said. The chief minister said women of the country were brave and resilient. “The women of Pakistan Army should be saluted for their courage.”

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