Call for collective resolve to conserve national wildlife

The key stakeholders reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation at a grand event organised to mark World Ranger Day at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

The speakers underscored the collective resolve to protect and preserve Pakistan's rich biodiversity and wildlife habitats for future generations. The event showcased momentous wildlife photos by an internationally acclaimed Pakistani wildlife photographer Jamal Leghari, the launching of a book by the late Zahid Baig Mirza, screening of a documentary on the snow leopard "The Silent King".

The most important segment of the ceremony was the inaugural Pakistan Wildlife Protection Awards, where the efforts of dedicated wildlife protection champions were celebrated and honoured.

The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Snow Leopard Foundation, and Devcom-Pakistan with the support of Snow Leopard Trust, Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), and the provincial wildlife and forest departments of Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Prime Minister's Coordinator on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Romina Khursheed Alam, Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Head of Climate Change at the British High Commission in Pakistan Anna Balance, Ambassador of Norway to Pakistan Per Albert Ilsaas, and Senator and Wildlife Ambassador Sardar Jamal Khan Leghari graced the occasion.

The Pakistan Wildlife Protection Awards honoured six exceptional wildlife guards, watchers, and rangers. Sarmad Shafa, Range Forest Officer of the Gilgit-Baltistan Parks and Wildlife Department won the Snow Leopard Award in the national category. Faizan Dukhi, Sub-Divisional Forest Officer, and Kamalud Din, Wildlife Inspector, of the Gilgit-Baltistan Parks and Wildlife Department, won the Ibex Award and the Blue Sheep Award for their conservation and protection efforts in Gilgit-Baltistan. Two officers of the K-P Wildlife Department, Syed Mussadiq Ali Shah and Zaid Ahmad declared winners of the Markhor Award and the Wolf Award respectively. The Musk Deer Award was earned by Jan Muhammad Nasir, Game Watcher, AJK Wildlife Department. All the awardees were also presented with a souvenir, an appreciation certificate, a field kit and cash prizes of Rs150,000 for the National Award Winner and Rs100,000 for the rest of the five Regional Award Winners, respectively.