Lahore, In a decisive move, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has taken immediate action against the unlawful logging within Lal Suhanra National Park, Bahawalpur. After receiving reports of the illegal cutting of over seventy rare trees, the Minister ordered the reassignment of 11 officials, including high-ranking conservators.

According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the government’s swift response included the transfer of a grade-20 chief conservator and other officials back to their respective departments. An investigative team from the anti-corruption establishment, joined by the secretary of forests, has been dispatched to Bahawalpur to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

The inquiry will examine the specifics of the illegal logging activity, including the species of trees felled, the scale of the operation, and the individuals implicated, to prevent such transgressions in the future. Senior Minister Aurangzeb emphasized that any officer or official found complicit in these illegal activities would face stringent legal consequences.

In addition to the chief conservator, several other forestry officials have seen their services surrendered as a result of this directive. This reshuffling underscores the government’s commitment to conserving Lal Suhanra National Park, a UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve known for its ecological diversity and cultural significance.

Lal Suhanra, with its unique combination of desert, forest, and aquatic environments, stands as a vital sanctuary for wildlife and a testament to historical civilizations, underlining the importance of its preservation for both environmental and heritage reasons.