{
  "id": 6219765,
  "title": "AJK govt prioritises forest protection, says minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/ajk-govt-prioritises-forest-protection-says-minister",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T03:01:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2028266/ajk-govt-prioritises-forest-protection-says-minister"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Muzaffarabad: Waqar Ahmed Noor, the Minister for Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), emphasized the significance of forest protection, promotion, and effective management as top priorities for the government during his inaugural visit to the Directorate of Reforestation in Mirpur. Noor provided officials with an overview of the department's administrative aspects, forest conservation efforts, afforestation, reforestation, resource management, and ongoing development projects. He also discussed project targets, progress, monitoring systems, and future plans, as well as initiatives under the UGPP. The briefing highlighted measures for promoting afforestation, ensuring sapling survival, establishing nurseries, preventing fires, curbing illegal logging, engaging local communities, and utilizing modern technology for forestry monitoring. Addressing the audience, Noor underscored the importance of the forests as a valuable asset, stressing that their protection, promotion, and efficient management necessitate collaborative efforts. He pledged to enhance the department's performance, resolve departmental issues, and rectify any negligence promptly, leveraging all available resources for improvement. Meanwhile, Noor chaired a separate briefing on Wildlife and Fisheries Department affairs, where Director Naeem Iftikhar Dar briefed him on departmental activities.",
  "summary": "MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Minister for Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries Waqar Ahmed Noor on Monday said protection, promotion and effective management of forests were among the government’s priorities and directed officials to improve the department’s performance and promptly address any shortcomings. He was speaking during his first visit to the Directorate of Reforestation,…",
  "key_points": [
    "Minister Waqar Ahmed Noor prioritizes forest protection in AJK",
    "Briefing covered forest conservation, afforestation, reforestation",
    "Emphasized collaborative efforts for forest management"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The AJK government's emphasis on forest protection and management signals a collaborative approach to preserving a valuable asset, involving officials, local communities, and modern technology to enhance conservation efforts.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}