Hunting of wild pigeons banned in Rawalpindi

Officials say violators will face the music

RAWALPINDI:

A ban has been imposed on the hunting of wild birds, especially wild pigeons in the garrison city. In this regard, two projects have been launched to bring back wild birds especially pigeons to the Rawalpindi city.

Since pigeon nests under the metro bus track from Saddar to Faizabad have been steadily growing, hunting of pigeons has been banned for breeding.

Officials said that if anyone hunts wild pigeons that live under metro bus tracks, cases will be registered against them and they will be arrested and heavy fines will be imposed.

The officials said that two new Miyawaki forests will be established to bring back the wild birds. All 10 fruit trees indigenous to the Potohar region will be planted in these Miyawaki forests.

Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi told The Express Tribune that the Parks and Horticulture Authority, the Rawalpindi Development Authority, Cantonment boards, the Rawalpindi District Council and the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation will all cooperate for the protection of wild birds as part of the beautification drive.

He said that the Punjab government will provide all necessary funds in this regard.

Qayyum Abbasi said that one Miyawaki forest will be established on three acres between the Rawalpindi-Islamabad Expressway and the second Miyawaki forest will be established on the green belt area between Katchery Chowk and Sawan bridge.

He said that in these two Miyawaki forests, 40,000 small and large plants will be planted, along with 20,000 plants of local fruits from the Potohar region.

Local fruits such as pears, apples, Bagoo Gosha [a kind of pear], grapes, mulberries of all three types, limes, potatoes, apricots, pomegranates and berries of both types will be planted in these forests. These two Miyawaki forests will be completed by October 31, he said.

It has also been decided to re-install floodlights worth Rs250,000, which were stolen from the Committee Chowk underpass.

“I have personally talked about this with Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi. Next month, the chief minister will visit Rawalpindi and meet all assembly members and heads of all institutions,” Qayyum Abbasi said.

Additionally, 30 recreational parks have been established throughout the city with dense trees to welcome birds back.

Officials said that more birds are likely to come back to Rawalpindi in wake of the plantation of fruit trees. Beautiful wooden bird nesting boxes are also being built in trees in the parks.

The RDA and the PHA established two Miyawaki forests about one-and-a-half-year ago and both have proved a success. They have also begun to produce fruit.