DLP Report
PESHAWAR
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Wildlife, Pir Musawar Khan has said that wildlife is the beauty of nature and a vital guarantee of ecological balance.
In his message on World Wildlife Day, observed globally on March 3, he highlights the measures taken by the provincial government to protect wildlife. The day aims to raise public awareness about the urgent need to protect rapidly disappearing wildlife.
Pir Musawar Khan highlighted the provincial government’s commitment to wildlife conservation, emphasizing that concrete steps were being taken to safeguard biodiversity. s part of these efforts, the province has established the largest zoo in Peshawar and completed the Swat Mini Zoo, which will soon be inaugurated for the public.
Illegal hunting remains strictly banned across the province, with the Wildlife Department taking strict legal action against violators, he said and added that the province leads the country in conservation efforts, having designated 16.79 percent of its land as protected areas. To date, nine national parks have been declared in KP, further strengthening wildlife preservation, he said.
CM aide for the wildlife furthered that thanks to sustained conservation measures, the population of Markhor—the national animal of Pakistan—has significantly increased, reaching 6,097 in Chitral, Kohistan, Chitral Gol National Park, and Swat by 2023.
Additionally, for the first time in history, a non-export quota has been introduced alongside the export quota for big game hunting. This year, 35 hunting permits for Markhor and Ibex were issued, generating $1.188 million in revenue. The non-export quota was approved in the third meeting of the KP Wildlife and Biodiversity Board, and all permits were auctioned through competitive bidding.
Pir Musawar Khan commended the people of KP for their role in wildlife conservation, noting that with public support, the province has made significant strides in curbing illegal hunting. He stressed that active public participation remains crucial in tackling environmental challenges and ensuring a sustainable future for wildlife.
