By Fareed ullah khan
Ziarat, a beautiful hill station located in the northeast of Balochistan, was once known as (Ghauski) a Pashto word meaning (cold place). It earned this name because of its naturally cold weather, surrounded by tall mountains and the majestic juniper forest, which keeps the area cool even during Pakistan’s scorching summers.
This forest is not an ordinary one. It is Asia’s largest juniper forest and the second largest in the world, home to trees that are thousands of years old. These ancient junipers, locally called (Sanober) are known for their slow growth sometimes only one inch in two years. Some trees are believed to be more than 2,000 years old making Ziarat not just a tourist destination, but a living natural museum.
The Heart of Tourism
The cool breeze of Ziarat, the fresh mountain air, and the sight of evergreen junipers attract thousands of tourists from all over Pakistan each year. Families, students, and nature lovers come here to escape the heat and enjoy the natural beauty. The famous Ziarat Residency, where Pakistan’s founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah spent his last days, also adds to the region’s historical and emotional importance.
However, Ziarat’s natural charm is under threat. The forest that provides life, oxygen, and beauty is being destroyed from within not by outsiders, but by the very people who depend on it for survival.
The Local Dilemma
We Cut Trees Because We Have No Gas
When I spoke to a local resident (who requested not to be named), his words revealed the painful truth behind the deforestation.
I am not mad to destroy my own forest, he said to me. “But we have no choice. The government says we have gas connections from Sui Southern Gas Company. The pipelines are there, the meters are there, but no gas ever comes. It only flows for a few days when VIPs the Governor, Chief Minister, or sometimes even the President visit Ziarat. Once they leave, the gas is cut off again.”
He Said
During winter, Ziarat becomes extremely cold. Without gas, how can we cook or keep our families warm? We must use wood to survive. If the government provides us with regular gas, we will never cut these trees again.”
The resident explained that due to the government’s failure to supply gas, people rely on cutting juniper trees for firewood. According to locals, between 600 and 1,000 trees are cut down every single day. Considering the slow growth of junipers, this rate of deforestation is catastrophic.
The Impact Reduced Snow and Rain
The result of this deforestation is already visible. Over the last five years, locals have noticed a significant decline in snowfall and rainfall. According to media reports, rainfall in Balochistan in the months of April and may has dropped by around 57% since 2025. Ziarat, once known for heavy snow in winter, now often experiences dry and delayed winters.
Experts believe that the juniper forest helps regulate rainfall not only in Ziarat but also in nearby districts like Quetta, Pishin, zhob, lorlai,harnai and Kalat. As the forest shrinks, the entire region faces the consequences rising temperatures reduced water availability and increased soil erosion.
Source Dawn http://www.dawn.com/news/1024187
Official Silence and Weak Strategy
To understand the government’s position, I contacted PS Abrar, the Personal Secretary at the Forest Department. He acknowledged that cutting juniper trees is illegal, saying:
No one has permission to cut these trees under forest law. If this is happening, then it is a failure of our forest officers and the local administration. They are responsible for protecting the forest.
When I spoke to Ibrahim Baloch, the Director General of Climate Change in Balochistan, he said:
Deforestation is not allowed under any law. If one tree is cut, a thousand new trees must be planted. But our department’s main role is to create awareness. The Forest Department is responsible for taking practical action.”
When I asked asked him whether any awareness campaigns had been carried out in Ziarat, he admitted:
So far, we have not held any seminars or awareness programs in Ziarat. We have done such events in Quetta and other districts, but not there yet.”
Repeated attempts to contact the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) for a statement were unsuccessful. The company did not respond to calls or messages.
Forests and Life: More Than Just Trees
Juniper forests are vital not only for human life but also for wildlife and birds that depend on them for shelter and food. They protect the soil, store carbon, and maintain local water cycles. As these trees vanish, wild animals lose their habitat, and entire ecosystems begin to collapse.
For the residents of Ziarat, these trees are also their identity a symbol of nature’s strength and resilience. “If these forests disappear,” said one elderly man, “Ziarat will lose its soul.”
Government Neglect and the Way Forward
Unfortunately, environmental protection has never been a strong priority in Pakistan’s policy agenda. Even in the recent provincial budget, only about 500 million rupees (50 crore) were allocated for climate change — a negligible amount given the scale of the crisis.
Experts say that the government needs to take urgent and serious action. Providing consistent gas supply to mountain districts like Ziarat can drastically reduce tree-cutting. Stronger enforcement of forest laws, awareness campaigns, and community-based reforestation programs are essential.
Ziarat’s juniper forest is not just a local treasure it is a national heritage and a global environmental asset. If immediate steps are not taken, Pakistan risks losing one of its most precious natural ecosystems which has stood tall for thousands of years.
The government must realize that protecting forests is not just an environmental issue it is about protecting livelihoods, tourism, and the very future of climate stability in Balochistan. Time is running out, and once these ancient trees are gone, they will never return.
