A plea for high priority for forestry sector in Pakistan
A plea for high priority for forestry sector in Pakistan
K. M. Siddiqui
ABSTRACT
The forestry sector is most neglected sector
the world over and the situation in Pakistan is not
different. Inspite of the fact that the forests cover
about one third of total land area on earth, provide
numerous benefits to man and contribute to
ecological and environmental stability and
sustainable development, the efforts for forestry
development and extension have been meagre,
widely dispersed and erratic over past many
decades. The current worldwide international
forest conservation assistance amounts to only US
$ 1.35 billion. The allocation of financial
resources to forestry sector by individual
governments and international agencies is also low.
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the
United Nations is responsible for forest
conservation and development all over the world
especially in the developing countries. It spends
only about 4% of its budget on forestry which is
less than half of 9% of its budget in the fifties.
Nearer home, forestry being provincial subject, the
provincial governments generally allocate 1 to
1.5% of their annual development funds to this
Rector which is very small. Similarly, the share of
forestry sector in all five year plans has usually
been half percent and only half of which was
actually released during plans' period for
developmental purposes. Presently, forests provide
Rs. 1550 millions as revenue to provincial
governments which is much more than total
expenditure on forestry development in the country
during Seventh Plan period.
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September 1991
Vol. 41, Iss. 3
