57 vehicles seized, contractor cases pending since 1992 as Senate probes GB forest system

Islamabad: Fifty even vehicles remain in the custody of the Gilgit Baltistan Forest Department, while some disputes involving forest contractors have been pending since 1992, a Senate sub committee was informed.

The disclosure raised serious questions about delays, penalties and the management of private forests in Gilgit Baltistan. Forest contractors told the committee that they were facing heavy fines, large security deposits, rising costs and long delays in receiving permission to cut approved trees.

They also complained that agreements were prepared without properly consulting them. The issue was discussed during a meeting of the Sub Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman.

The committee reviewed the rules governing forest contractors and the system used to manage forests in Gilgit Baltistan. Officials said the forests are privately owned by local communities.

However, cutting and transporting trees remained under government control through scientific working plans. These plans are supposed to decide which trees may be cut, how much timber may be removed and how forests will be protected for the future.

Contractors said delays in felling operations were causing serious financial losses. They explained that delayed permission caused labour, transport and equipment costs to continue rising.

Some contractors also reported security problems in remote areas. They said workers had faced attacks while carrying out forestry operations. Transporting timber through difficult mountainous routes was also described as dangerous and expensive.

The committee directed the Forest Department to examine all pending contractor cases going back to 1992. This means some disputes may have remained unresolved for more than three decades.

The department was also ordered to submit the 2002 Working Plan. Committee members asked for a comparison between the old and current systems used to decide the order in which forest areas are opened for tree cutting.

Officials informed the committee that people involved in illegal logging could be fined three times the market value of the timber. For example, if illegally cut wood is worth Rs1 million, the offender may face a fine of Rs3 million.

The committee was also told that 57 seized vehicles were still being held by the Forest Department. These vehicles were reportedly taken into custody in cases linked to illegal or disputed timber transportation.

The Senate panel decided to personally inspect the seized vehicles and confiscated timber. Members said an on site visit was necessary to confirm the condition, quantity and official record of the seized property.

Officials further informed the committee that forest check posts were being monitored through 86 CCTV cameras. The cameras are meant to monitor timber movement and help prevent illegal logging and transportation.

However, the large number of seized vehicles and old pending cases raised questions about whether the monitoring and enforcement system was working properly. Contractors also complained about what they described as unnecessary or baseless complaints against lawful forestry work.

They said repeated complaints and investigations could stop approved operations for long periods. The committee directed the Forest Department to discourage frivolous complaints while ensuring that genuine cases of illegal logging were fully investigated.

It also asked officials to solve the contractors’ operational problems without weakening security or forest protection rules. The committee stated that legal businesses and private investment must be protected, but no contractor should be allowed to damage forests or move timber without proper approval.

Members stressed that forest management must be transparent so that local communities, contractors and government departments clearly understand the rules. The committee reaffirmed that illegal logging must stop, while lawful forestry operations should not be blocked by unnecessary delays.