Syed Ali Shah, Ali Khan Mandokhail :
An ancient forest in the Sherani area has abruptly caught fire. Roaring flames of fire and thick black smoke can be seen from quite far away. In a video obtained by this daily, a man is urging the concerned quarters to launch an action to extinguish the flames of fire. “This fire is almost 15km away from me”, a man with a trimmed-beared laments in the video.
Ashar, a movement established to bring an end to deforestation has also expressed serious concern over eruption fire in the forest. “Probably as reported by our field staff, this area falls within the jurisdiction of KPK. Our field officials are sending me a clear report soon”, Dostain Khan Jamaldini, the Balochistan Secretary Forest explained in a WhatsApp group.
The lush-green rugged mountains of Sherani district links Balochistan with KP
The lush-green rugged mountains of Sherani district links Balochistan with KP. “We want the authorities to put off flames of fire irrespective of jurisdiction”, Salmeen Khapalwak, the Chief of Ashar movement demanded.
Sherani district houses ancient forest, which is considered to be crucial for climate change in the area. Locals have repeatedly accused the forest department and other concerned quarters for what they claim their failure to end deforestation. The charge was vehemently denied by the Forest Department.
Fire destroys ancient trees located in the forest
“The fire is in KP side”, an audio message of a local forest official shared by Dostain Khan Jamaldini explained.
The fire has destroyed scores of ancient trees located in the forest. The man in the video said that some people have put the forest on fire because of tribal enmity. The authorities could not verify this immediately.
It is the responsibility of the authorities to extinguish the flames of fire irrespective of jurisdiction, Mr. Khapalwak stated. Still thick black smoke was rising from the Sherani forest till the filing of this report.
