PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan Friday directed the agriculture and forest departments to devise plan for olive plantation.

Presiding over a joint meeting of forest and mineral departments in Peshawar, the chief minister directed that the plan must be devised within 10 days.

The chief minister said that plan should have clearly defined responsibilities of both the departments and way forward to execute the plan. He has also directed the departments concerned to devise a policy for underground mining of precious mines and minerals in the mountainous areas.

Mahmood Khan directed the authorities to take necessary steps to stop illegal crushing of sand and gravel. The meeting discussed in detail matters relating to sustainable olive plantation in KP, protection of fish, illegal extraction of gravels and sands from riverbeds and other related issues.

Expressing commitment to ensure implementation of a project regarding olive plantation in KP, Mahmood Khan said that ultimate goal of the project was to ensure economic friendly utilisation of non-agriculture and barren land available in the province which would have a positive impact on environment and reduce the impact of climate change.

The chief minister underlined the need for carrying out olive plantation through forest department and said the department has the required capacity and expertise to plant olives. He also directed senior officials of mines department to hold regular public meetings regarding leases of mines in merged tribal districts.

He also asked the mines department to share data of workers to labour department so that these mine workers could be registered with relevant bodies and their will being is ensured.

Unhealthy date palms

The KP Food Safety Authority has seized 2,000kg unhealthy date palms from Paharpur Tehsil of Dera Ismail Khan.

The Food Authority has also carried out successful operation against food mafia in Swat, Mardan and Hangu districts, where they have recovered 1,000kg unhealthy cooking oil in Paharpur and arrested two persons. The food safety has also inspected dairy shops in Mingora Bazaar and seized 35kg of unhealthy yogurt.

The Authority also carried out operation against spice shops on Mardan-Swabi Road and recovered more than 20kg China salt.