Press reports about the indiscriminate felling of the Khabar (toothbrush) tree have sent shock waves across Sindh. A syndicate has employed poor villagers on meagre wages to cut down such trees planted on thousands of acres.

The ‘toothbrush tree’ is a native of Punjab, Balochistan and lower Sindh. It is also found abundantly in India.

Until recently, the leaves of the tree served only as cheap animal fodder, but the growing use of its roots (Piloo) as Miswak (a crude toothbrush) in Pakistan as well as the Middle East has proved disastrous for it.

The lure of windfall profits has been attracting businessmen to the Khabar tree in droves.

They have started cutting down the tree on a massive scale. This is taking a heavy toll of Sindh’s ecosystem.

Latest research has shown that Piloo contains fluoride, silica, sulphur, vitamin C and a number of other constituents beneficial to teeth.

The publication of this research has prompted many people in the Middle East to switch over from toothpaste to Piloo Miswak. Even some non-Muslims have adopted it.

Before the widespread acceptance of the Miswak, the felling of the Khabar tree was on a scale that posed no threat to the ecological balance. But the expanding market for it in the country and the Middle East has turned out to be a deathblow for the Khabar as well as the environment.

The mafia is going about the business in a methodical manner.

Over one hundred concerns have set up small plants which do not use any advanced technology. Locals are commissioned for the cutting operation.

One man can cut two such trees in one day. They are paid a mere Rs 100 for the job, which includes taking the roots to the market.

The roots are then brought to Karachi and other big cities. Here they are soaked in flavoured water, cut into small pieces, the sticks are then gift-wrapped and sent to the market.

In Middle Eastern countries, one stick fetches a price ranging between one dollar and three dollars, depending upon the quality.

The depletion is already there for everybody to see. In Badin and Thatta districts, camel owners are facing difficulty in feeding their animals. About two months ago, the Badin district council, through a resolution, urged the government to ban the cutting down of these plants. A number of protests were held in Karachi and other towns of Sindh, but the illegal business continues.

The situation is crying out for an urgent action. The business should be regulated. Proper farming is the right way. If commercial organisations are allowed to mint millions without investing anything, it is binding on the government to take measures for saving the rural areas from ruin.