Officials from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) uncovered a timber scam worth Rs 1.7 billion. They seized 2.3 million cubic feet of illegally cut wood. The Forestry Planning and Monitoring Circle (FP&MC) in Peshawar led the investigation and found 140 officials involved.
The FP&MC report highlighted numerous issues in Battagram’s Allai tehsil and other areas. Officials reviewed 370 cases, cleared 168, identified minor issues in 91, and found serious violations in 111. They approved 4.39 million cubic feet of timber, allowed 1.545 million cubic feet after fixes, and seized 2.361 million cubic feet due to major breaches. Woodlots had the most violations, with 64 out of 178 cases flagged.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the province most affected by timber mafia. I’m sure you also know that it is the responsibility of the authorities governing the area to stop both local people and mafias from engaging in this illegal activity.
Btw this is the recent visuals from Bajaur. https://t.co/8EWh7mBd4P pic.twitter.com/QN4hl8nR5W
— Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) August 25, 2025After a three-year pause, the KP government resumed forest monitoring in 2024. The investigation, ordered by the provincial cabinet, looked at woodlots, working plans, and dry or windfallen trees. It found that officials ignored marking rules and allowed illegal cutting to occur. As a result, 140 officers face charges under the Efficiency and Discipline Rules 2011. Some cases involve the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Anti-Corruption Department.
These aren’t scenes from Pushpa 3 — this is Kullu Himachal Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/j5MHq2GoLM
— Go Himachal (@GoHimachal_) June 26, 2025In 2017, forests covered 20.3% of KP, but they are now facing rapid loss, at a rate of around 1.5% per year. Illegal logging makes up more than half of Pakistan’s timber trade and earns millions on the black market. This scam threatens KP’s fragile forests, which are further exacerbated by poor oversight and weak law enforcement.
The crackdown aims to stop the timber mafia. Authorities have seized wood from three sites and are continuing their inspections. The KP government’s 2024 order to resume monitoring exposed the scam and shows a move toward transparency. Experts call for tougher accountability to protect forests. Healthy forests are crucial in combating climate-related issues, particularly during Pakistan’s 2025 floods.
