Wildlife dept allows migratory birds hunting

Before onset of winter, millions of birds travel from cold regions to Pakistan

LAHORE:

Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department has issued a hunting permit notification to allow hunting of migratory birds and ducks arriving to Pakistan in winter.

As per details, hunting activities will be allowed on Saturdays and Sundays only.

Every year before the onset of winter, millions of migratory birds travel from cold regions to Pakistan in search of food and, subsequently, thousands of birds are hunted here.

The wildlife department has issued a hunting permit notification from October 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. No special hunting area had been set aside for waterfowl, lakes and rivers.

Punjab Wildlife Deputy Director Mudassar Hassan told The Express Tribune that hunting requires a valid hunting licence and weapons license issued by the department.

A hunter can hunt a maximum of 10 birds a day, he further said. The deputy director stated that a recent meeting of the Punjab Wildlife Board had come up with a proposal to reduce the number of birds hunted daily.

The proposals had been sent to the provincial cabinet and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar for approval. If the summary is approved during the hunting season, then it will be implemented.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2020.