Khalid Ayaz commends officials for foiling stealing of Urials babies

Lahore: Director General Wildlife & Parks Punjab Khalid Ayaz Khan has said that conservation of wildlife and checking its illegal hunting is the responsibility of the department and all energies are being utilized in his regard. He said that officers and officials performing their duties without caring for their lives for the protection of wildlife are proud of the department and will be encouraged at every level.

He expressed these views while addressing a ceremony of awarding prizes and commendatory certificates to officials of Wildlife Department and Urial Western Jhelum Community-based Organization who foiled the attempt to steal six Urial lambs a few days ago, at Kalar Kahar.

Honorary Game Warden Punjab Shah Rukh Butt, Chief Pattern Urial Western Jhelum
Community-based Organization Salman Warraich, Deputy Director Salt Range Rana Muhammad Shehbaz, Deputy Director Headquarter Naeem Bhatti and other officers were also present on the occasion.

Khalid Ayaz Khan stressed upon making shelters of wildlife more safer and added that all necessary
instructions have been issued to officers and officials appointed at salt range. He said that law is equal for all regarding protection of wildlife and its conservation and violators deserve no leniency. He said that Wildlife Department is extending all out cooperation to CBOs regarding conservation of Urial and checking its illegal hunting.

Khalid Ayaz Khan said that conservation of wildlife is included in the duties of Wildlife Department and steps are being taken for training of watchers of the department on modern lines in order to enable them
perform their duties in more efficient manner. He said that due to illegal hunting, the number of Urial had reduced to less than five hundred but due to efforts of the department, participation of local people and performance of CBOs set up in 2005, their number has acceded 3200 which is a good omen.

DG Wildlife said that Provincial Wildlife Department is taking all out steps for conservation of wildlife but it is a collective responsibility. He said that the success in this regard is impossible without public participation in the measures taken for protection of wildlife.

Later, DG Wildlife gave away commendatory certificates and cash prizes to six officials of Wildlife Department including Wildlife Inspector Sher Ali, Wildlife Watchers Zamurd Khan, Banaras Khan, Shehbaz Bhatti.
Driver Muhammad Arif, Driver Shakeel Ahmed and President Western Jhelum Community-based Organization Raja Hamid Ali, General Secretary Raja Jameel Qaiser, CBO Watchers Rifat Javed, Muhammad Aamir and Ghulam Ahmed.