Islamabad : The government’s recent proposals to amend the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) have sparked controversy and criticism.
The amendments aim to place the board under the Ministry of Interior and reduce its role to an advisory capacity. Currently, the IWMB is under the Ministry of Climate Change and is responsible for managing wildlife in the Islamabad Capital Territory, as well as promoting conservation efforts.
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The government argues that the proposed amendments will lead to better wildlife protection, but a source within the IWMB claims that the changes will result in the board becoming an advisory body, with its organization being under the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The CDA has a history of mismanagement and harm to the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), which has resulted in the extinction of several species of wildlife.
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In 2018, the IWMB was transferred to the Ministry of Climate Change, and its members proposed an alternative to the proposed amendments in the form of the Islamabad Nature Act.
The act aims to upgrade the MHNP to international standards, generate funds through fees, and impose penalties for violations of national park and wildlife rules.
