Rare plants seized from shipping container

Herbs from arid Kirthar Mountains and Himalayan forests were being smuggled to Sri Lanka

KARACHI:

The Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large quantity of rare and protected wild plants, including Guggul (Commiphora wightii), Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa), and Mulethi (Liquorice), at the South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT).

According to the SWD spokesperson, a significant seizure was made from a container bound for Sri Lanka, where 500 kg of Guggul Gum, a protected and rare wild plant also known as Gagral was taken into custody. Additionally, 250 kg of Kutki plants, a rare and endangered species native to the Himalayan forests, were confiscated. Furthermore, a substantial 4,000 kg of Mulethi plants were also taken into custody.

The seized herbs were taken into custody under the provisions of the Sindh Province Wildlife Protection Act and the Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act 2012 and Rules 2018. Consequently, Case No. 5/2024 was registered against the exporter, and the case was presented in the court of the District Sessions Judge Karachi South for trial.

"According to SWD Sindh Chief Conservator Javed Mehr, the rare plant species seized in the operation are found in specific regions of Pakistan. Guggul is native to Sindh, particularly in the Kirthar National Park, Run of Kutch and Wildlife Sanctuary, Gorakh Hills, and Kirthar Range, as well as in Balochistan. Meanwhile, the kutki herb, listed in Site List II, is a wild plant species found in the forests of the Himalayan mountain ranges. The above-mentioned plants are rare and play an important role in the food chain ecosystem of nature.

Plant protection

As per the laws of Pakistan, the export of all wild animals and plants, including those not explicitly listed or not, and their byproducts, requires a special permit under the Pakistan Trade Control Act of Wild Fauna and Flora. This permit is issued by the City Management Authority, Ministry of Climate Change, Government of Pakistan which is subject to a No Objection Certificate (NOC), scientific reports and expert analysis and research from the concerned provincial government. Pakistan is counted as a member state of the Convention of Cities. According to this convention, the international trade of wildlife and flora is conditioned by local and international laws, and scientific and sustainable development principles. According to national laws, the use of wild plants or animals on agricultural lands to meet human needs has been emphasized, so as to avoid unnecessary weight and negative effects on the forest and the house.

The successful operation demonstrates the commendable and professional efforts of the Pakistan Anti-Narcotics Force and the Sindh Wildlife Department, showcasing that Pakistan is working seriously to achieve the international community's expectations and agreed targets for biodiversity conservation.