WWF sounds alarm over IWMB ‘restructuring’

Islamabad: The World Wide Fund for Nature, a Swiss-based international non-governmental organisation dedicated to wilderness preservation and reducing human impact on the environment, has taken issue with the recent shake-up of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board, highlighting its potential threat to the preservation of Margalla Hills National Park.

The government notification includes the appointment of ex-officio government members, which WWF Pakistan believes directly contradicts the Supreme Court's directive for the IWMB to function as an independent and autonomous body. According to it, the restructuring comes at a critical time when Pakistan is grappling with pressing environmental challenges, including the protection of wildlife and natural habitats.

The WWF Pakistan warned in a message that the move could undermine essential conservation efforts, including re-wilding and rehabilitation programmes within the Margalla Hills National Park, a key ecological asset for the region. It urged the government to include independent experts and representatives from civil society organisations in the board, as originally mandated by the law, insisting this is to ensure balanced and effective decision-making for the preservation of the natural heritage.