CHITRAL- Forest Department KP distributed Chilgoza Kit among the people of Kalsh valley both in Muslim and Kalash community. In this connection a simple but prompt function was also held at forest rest house Bumbroat. Divisional Forest Officer Shoukat Fayaz was chief guest on the occasion. While district coordinator Ajaz Ahmad, Sub Divisional Forest officer Umari Nawaz, Community Development Officer of Forest and other staff were also present on the occasion.
Talking to the local community (both Kalash and Muslim) DFO said that is very fruitful project for forest area. He said that these Kits are distrusting with financial support of Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nation (FAO) in a joint project with Ministry of Climate Change Government of Pakistan as provincial forest department is executing agency of Chilgoza forest project..
DFO told that in past people were collecting Chilgoza (Pine) from tree with an orthodox way in which branches of tree also damaging and the person who was collecting its cone also fell down as a result his leg or hand became fracture. Now they can collect Chilgoza with a very safe way and Pine trees will also be saved from destroying.
Ajaz Ahmad demonstrated before the local people regarding using of these Kits that how they can use belt, Helmet, shoes, and cutter for Chilgoza cone. At last they distributed these kits to local community through chilgoza protection committee.
Abdul Majeed Qureshi president of Chilgoza protection committee told that these are very useful Kits for local people as some 170 million revenue collecting at Bumborat from Pine (Chilgoza) but most of these pine cone were destroying now we can collect them with a safe way.
Local Kalash woman Shahi Gul Bibi told that we depend on agriculture and forest and Chilgoza is the main cash fruit of this area.
An other Kalash woman Roman Bibi said that we are very happy that Forest department distributed Kits among our community it will be major source of income and will play vital role in poverty alleviation from this backward area.
At last forest team along with our correspondent climbed on a mountain and went to chilgoza forest where they practically demonstrated pine collection to local community. Ajaz Ahmad said that FAO UN and Ministry of Climate Change had launched Chilgoza forest project in all provinces of the country and Chitral is very important district of this project.
