Mirpur (ajk): AJK Minister for Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries Col (retd) Waqar Ahmed Noor has directed the Forest Department to provide modern professional training and refresher courses to its employees and field staff to enhance their capacity and improve forest management in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the Forest Department’s Central Office in the State metropolis on Thursday, the minister directed that employees be trained in forest laws, the Forest Act, wildlife protection laws and legal procedures concerning encroachments.
He said the Forest Department was a highly important and technical institution, and its performance must be aligned with modern requirements.
He directed that field and administrative staff be imparted training in scientific reforestation techniques, plantation, forest regeneration, modern mapping, GIS and the use of advanced equipment for forest protection.
The minister said protection of forests and natural resources was the government’s top priority, adding that professionally equipped staff could help effectively control deforestation, forest fires and other emergencies while increasing the state’s green cover. He directed officers to focus their capabilities primarily on forest conservation and plantation activities, while keeping other administrative matters secondary.
The minister also ordered that the department’s entire record be computerized at the earliest to improve administrative efficiency, record management, inspection and transparency. He directed the officials to take all possible measures for improving the department’s overall performance and warned that negligence or laxity in protecting forests would not be tolerated.
Earlier, Conservator of Forests Central Office Owais Javed briefed the meeting on departmental affairs. The minister directed all officers and employees to perform their duties with honesty, integrity and dedication, stressing that protecting forests and expanding their area were the primary responsibilities of the Forest Department.