Minister for more effective laws against illegal hunting

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries Malik Muhammad Asif Bha Awan has directed authorities concerned to evolve wildlife management policy for modernizing the department. He further directed that amendments in Wildlife Act 2007 be proposed for making the laws against illegal hunting more effective.

He issued these instructions while presiding over a meeting of Fisheries and Wildlife Departments at his office at Cooper Road, here today. Secretary Forests Maj. (R) Shahnawaz Badar, Director General Fisheries, Director General Wildlife and other senior officers were present. The Minister said that there is a need to strictly deal with the elements involved in poaching and more attention should be focused on Cholistan area as more complaints in this regard are coming from this region. He said that efforts should be made for modernizing the zoos and parks under the administrative control of Wildlife Department so that better recreational facilities could be provided to the citizens. He said that there is also a need to evolve projects under public-private partnership for protection and promotion of wildlife.

Malik Muhammad Asif Bha Awan said that a project is being considered for setting up a veterinary hospital of the department for better look after and treatment of animals at zoos and wildlife parks. He directed the officers to pay special attention to the food of animals and birds and strictly abide by the PPRA rules while floating the tender in this regard.

The |Minister emphasized that due attention should also be paid to the breeding and research centers of the Wildlife Department. The Minister directed officers of Fisheries Department to depute only trained staff at hatcheries. Discussing the matters regarding leasing of waters, the Minister directed that this system should be made more transparent and immediate approval to the successful contractor should be given after completion of the auction process.