PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY OF SINDH
FOREST DEPARTMENT
LIST OF STARRED ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR
WEDNESDAY THE 08TH MARCH, 2017
*3815. MS. NUSRAT SEHER ABBASI: Will the Minister for Forest be pleased to state:-
Whether the forestation of canals and irrigation channels is the responsibility of the Forest or Agriculture department?
ANSWER
SYED MURAD ALI SHAH (Chief Minister), Minister for Forest:
Under social forestry program, Sindh Forest department has mandate to carry out plantation on any blank area suitable for plantation irrespective of ownership, in consultation with concerned entity.
*3816. MS. NUSRAT SEHER ABBASI: Will the Minister for Forest be pleased to state:-
(a) Is it a fact that uncultivated land of province is being allocated at lower rates on 30 years lease for forestation to promote forests;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, names of such talukas/districts?
ANSWER
SYED MURAD ALI SHAH (Chief Minister), Minister for Forest:
(a) At present there is no policy in execution in Sindh Forest Department, whereby, uncultivated forest land is allocated on 30 years lease for Afforestation to promote forests.
(b) N/A.
*3843. ENGR. SABIR HUSSAIN KAIMKHANI: Will the Minister for Forest be pleased to state:-
(a) Is it a fact that department leases its land for agriculture purposes;
(b) If answer to (a) above is affirmative, area leased out other than agriculture purposes along with terms and conditions of the lease?
ANSWER
SYED MURAD ALI SHAH (Chief Minister), Minister for Forest:
(a) There is an approved Sindh Agroforestry Lease Policy 2004 under execution in Sindh Forest Department under which scheduled forest land is granted for five years Agroforestry lease and after completion of initial five years lease period, the period is extendable to another five years.
(b) Under this policy, forest land is leased out only for Agroforestry purpose (raising of agriculture crops and trees together over same unit of land) and not solely for agriculture.
*4319. MR. MUHAMMAD RASHID KHILJI: Will the Minister for Forest be pleased to state:-
Whether there is any new scheme under consideration of the department regarding new forests?
ANSWER
SYED MURAD ALI SHAH (Chief Minister), Minister for Forest:
Yes. Under the “Green Pakistan Program” as per directives of Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan a new umbrella project is under consideration in the Ministry of Climate Change Government of Pakistan, Islamabad.
Accordingly, Sindh Forest Department in compliance with said Prime Minister directive has proposed a development project in its ADP titled “Reclamation & Development of Forest Areas in Sindh” for period of 5 years (2016-2017 to 2020-2021) at a cost of Rs.800 Million with 50% share cash from Provincial and Federal Government.
The project will help in protecting and conserving forestry resources of Sindh specially, Mangroves, Irrigated Plantation and Linear Plantations along roads and canals.
*4509. MS. HEER SOHO: Will the Minister for Forest be pleased to state:-
(a) Year in which Forest Act was promulgated which is being implemented;
(b) Number of employees presently working in the department alongwith details thereof?
ANSWER
SYED MURAD ALI SHAH (Chief Minister), Minister for Forest:
(a) Forest Act, 1927 was promulgated in September, 1927 before partition with the title “Forest Act, 1927”.
(b) Presently there are 2028 numbers of employees working in different grades in Sindh Forest Department. Detail is attached at Annexure, placed on the Table of the House.
Karachi:- G. M. Umar Farooq
the 07th March, 2017. Secretary
Provincial Assembly of Sindh.
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