Sindh lifts ban on bird hunting for next four months

The Sindh Wildlife Department has lifted the four-month ban on hunting, allowing the hunting season to commence from November 3 and continue until February 28, 2025, Express News reported on Thursday.

Under the new regulations, hunting can only occur on Saturdays and Sundays using approved shotguns, while adhering to designated hunting zones.

The Wildlife Department issued a formal notification allowing the start of non-breeding season hunting (when nesting and young birds are not present) with the permission of the relevant authorities.

The hunting season will officially begin on November 3, 2024, and end at sunset on February 28, 2025. During this period, hunters must comply with the established regulations regarding approved shotguns.

The notification specifies prohibited hunting areas, which include Kirthar National Park, all wildlife sanctuaries, and cantonment areas.

To ensure adherence to the hunting laws, a wildlife emergency will be implemented during the hunting season. Department personnel are mandated to patrol their areas and can collaborate with police, rangers, and other law enforcement agencies to enforce regulations.

Chief Conservator of Sindh Wildlife, Javed Mehr, indicated that for transparency and to prevent any violations, law enforcement agencies, magistrates, and local councils—including union councils, town committees, district councils, and municipal corporations—have been granted the authority to check permits and bag limits.

According to the notification, obtaining a permit is mandatory for hunting, allowing hunters to take a specified number of game birds—10 partridges and 15 ducks per license.

Deputy Conservator of Sindh Wildlife, Mumtaz Soomro, mentioned that both local residents and foreign guests can obtain hunting permits by paying a fee of $100.

Soomro noted that the Wildlife Department staff, including field officers, inspectors, and watchers, will conduct regular patrols to enforce the regulations. It is important to highlight that hunting game birds during the non-breeding season is an internationally recognised wildlife management principle.

Sindh, with its moderate climate, is home to over 380 bird species known for hunting, including brown and black partridges, as well as various waterfowl. Pakistan is among the countries that adhere to international standards for hunting regulations.