Minister orders formulation of first wildlife policy

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan on Thursday instructed forest and wildlife department of the ministry to formulate the country's first wildlife policy.
After the successful approval of Pakistan First National Forest Policy, for which process started in 2015 on the direction of then Prime Minister of Pakistan, a comprehensive Forest Policy was finalised in consultation with the provinces and Council of Common Interest in a meeting held in September 2017.
Although the forest is a provincial subject, the National Forest Policy was formulated to meet the contemporary challenges of fast changing developments that transcend provincial and national boundaries.
The vacuum between science, policy and practice of wildlife management was badly felt by Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan, who issued directions for the preparations of Pakistan first comprehensive wildlife policy. “The healthy wildlife plays an important role in maintaining the ecosystem. Pakistan is land of diverse wildlife that plays an important role in environment,” said by the minister.
He added that wildlife in Pakistan faced various dangers in form of climate change effects, illegal hunting and import, unhealthy nutrition and unsustainable commercial use. The minister said it was very important to take initiatives to protect wildlife of Pakistan.
"It is the need of hour to formulate a comprehensive National Wildlife Policy to ensure healthy and protective wildlife in Pakistan." This is timely intervention as no province or federal government has the wildlife policy. Only some provincial legislation on wildlife has been done. This is necessary to synchronise the latest scientific knowledge with field, practice through provincial legislation," he said.