Sir: Forests play an important role in the development of a country and is considered as a valuable natural resource by experts. Forests should at least cover 25 percent of the total area of a country. But unfortunately in Pakistan only 4.5 percent of the total area is covered by forests. Deforestation is the main environmental concern in the world. Deforestation includes the cutting down, burning and destroying of trees. It is the first step of environment degradation that is soon followed by erosion, climatic changes, pollution and the loss of hardwood and fuel wood. Lastly I would like to request the government of Pakistan to cover all our open areas by trees, and let new trees grow happily in Pakistan, and let us stop cutting them down. ZAREEN SWALI Turbat Published in Daily Times, August 5th 2018.