In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a bureaucratic and political standoff has left approximately 0.55 million cubic feet of legally harvested timber—worth an estimated Rs3.8 billion—deteriorating in forests and along roadsides for 16 years. The timber, sourced from dry wind-fallen trees under a 2003 policy, was harvested between 2008 and 2010 in Upper and Lower Kohistan, yet successive provincial governments have failed to authorize its sale. Main Developments According to forest department officials and local sources, the timber was harvested under the Dry Wind Fall Policy of 2003. In Upper Kohistan, 3.15 million cubic feet were cut, with 2.78 million cubic feet sold in 2010, leaving 0.35 million cubic feet unsold after the policy's timeframe expired. In Lower Kohistan, 1.34 million cubic feet were harvested, with 1.1 million cubic feet sold and 0.204 million cubic feet remaining. The unsold timber is now scattered along the Karakoram Highway, other roads in Kohistan, rain water courses, and inside forests. Locals and officials report that the wood has decayed significantly over the past 16 years, reducing its market value. A senior forest department official noted that the timber lying in water courses could be swept away by floods at any time. Read also: Probe Launched into HIV Outbreak at Karachi Hospital After 10 Cases Found Background The Dry Wind Fall Policy was approved in 2003 by the then Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The policy allowed harvesting of dry, wind-fallen trees, with 80% of sale proceeds going to local forest owners and 20% to the provincial government for forest management. Harvesting was a time-consuming process, requiring a working plan, tree marking, and third-party validation, and was limited by snow-covered mountain terrain that restricted access. Khan Member, a local resident, explained that locals and forest officials cannot sell the timber without provincial government approval. He said that despite raising the issue on multiple forums, no action has been taken by successive governments. A forest department official added that preparing the working plan and marking trees is a lengthy task, making it impractical to link the policy to a fixed timeframe rather than the volume of designated timber. Why It Matters The delay has direct financial consequences for local communities, who own 80% of the forest and would receive the majority of sale proceeds. The decaying timber represents a lost economic opportunity for impoverished residents of Kohistan. Additionally, the timber's deterioration and flood risk highlight systemic mismanagement of natural resources. Another senior forest official revealed that the government's reluctance stems from fear of social media backlash. When timber is loaded onto trucks, social media users often photograph it and spread claims of timber smuggling, creating political pressure. This fear, rather than legal or logistical hurdles, appears to be the primary obstacle to selling the timber, according to the official. What's Next The forest and wildlife department has recently moved a summary to higher authorities seeking approval from the provincial cabinet to dispose of the dumped timber. Whether the cabinet will act remains uncertain, given the political sensitivity and social media concerns. Local residents and officials continue to wait for a decision that could unlock billions of rupees in value for the region.