Role of Pakistani Institutions in Wildlife Conservation: Special Study

پاکستانی اداروں کا وائلڈ لائف کے تحفظ میں کردار :تخصیصی مطالعہ

Abstract

Wildlife conservation in Pakistan has a long history. At the time of the partition of India and Pakistan, the forest and wildlife system in Pakistan was very diverse and the then authorities took some initial steps to protect wildlife. However, over time, this balance of life was disrupted, especially in the last three decades when deforestation and hunting activities increased rapidly. Wildlife species in Pakistan are very diverse and rare, including markhor, snow leopard, deer, river dolphin and various types of birds. Unfortunately, illegal hunting, destruction of natural habitats, environmental pollution and exponential growth in population have put these animals at risk. To address these problems, several legal measures have been taken at the state level, which are the need of the hour to review. The first serious attempt to protect wildlife in Pakistan was made in 1974 when the Pakistan Wildlife Protection Act was passed. Under it, an attempt was made to provide protection to various wildlife species. The Act proposed measures to curb illegal hunting activities and protect forests. However, the implementation of these laws has been fraught with difficulties and many species have become endangered. Wildlife protection laws in Pakistan have undergone many changes over time. Following the Wildlife Protection Act of 1974, the Pakistan National Park System was established in the 1990s to provide protection to various wildlife species in their natural environment. In addition, several new laws were introduced in the 2000s regarding forest and wildlife protection, which aimed to protect wildlife species. This article provides a brief and specific review of Pakistani institutions regarding wildlife protection.