Urgent Action Needed to Curb Deforestation: Mian Kashif Ashfaq

LAHORE, August 9: Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Furniture Council Mian Kashif Ashfaq, Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, has warned that around 11,000 hectares of forests are being lost in Pakistan every year, while forests cover only 4.7 percent of the country’s total land area, which is inadequate for environmental protection.

Chairing a meeting of the Board of Directors here on Sunday, he said rapid urbanization, illegal logging, forest fires and the conversion of forest land for agricultural and residential purposes were accelerating deforestation.

He said the loss of forests was increasing Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate-related hazards, including floods, extreme heat, drought and smog.

Mian Kashif Ashfaq said forests, particularly rainforests, play a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide, mitigating the effects of climate change, maintaining ecological balance and protecting biodiversity. However, continued deforestation was weakening this natural capacity.

He said rapid industrialization, urban expansion and indiscriminate tree cutting had contributed to rising global temperatures and intensified the climate crisis. Pakistan, he added, had also faced increasing environmental degradation and risks from natural disasters due to extensive forest loss over the past several decades.

He noted that deforestation was not only an environmental issue but was also adversely affecting agriculture, biodiversity and water resources. Without substantially increasing forested areas, the impacts of climate change could become even more severe.

Mian Kashif Ashfaq urged the government to formulate a comprehensive strategy and effective action plan to curb illegal logging. He also called for a nationwide public awareness campaign to highlight the environmental and economic importance of forests.