ISLAMABAD: The government announced that Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) will be placed under the Ministry of Interior.
The proposed changes to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) by the government have sparked outrage. The amendments seek to make the board an advisory body.
Currently, the IWMB, which is responsible for managing wildlife and promoting conservation in the Islamabad Capital Territory, falls under the Ministry of Climate Change.
The government argues that the proposed changes will strengthen wildlife protection.
However, a source within the IWMB claims that this move will limit the board’s role and that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) will oversee its organization.
The CDA has previously been accused of contributing to the decline of the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) by allowing commercial activities and encroachments, leading to the extinction of cheer pheasants and grey Gural.
In 2018, the IWMB was transferred to the Ministry of Climate Change, and its members proposed the draft Islamabad Nature Act as an alternative to the government’s amendments.
The act aims to upgrade MHNP to international standards, raise funds through fees, and impose penalties for violations of the national park and wildlife rules.
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