Punjab Wildlife has issued a notification (Photo: File)
Lahore: Punjab Wildlife has allowed hunting of migratory birds coming to Pakistan for food and breeding from colder regions till March 31. According to the law, hunters can only hunt on Saturdays and Sundays.
According to Express News, thousands of migratory birds migrate from cold regions to Pakistan every year in winter. These guest birds visit the reservoirs, lakes, rivers and flowing water of Punjab where these guest birds feed as well as breed. In the same period, these guest birds are also hunted, these birds include Talur, Kunj, Bhagosh, Charu, Chiklu, Red head, Banaro, small ducks and many other birds.
Punjab Wildlife has issued notification for hunting permission from 1st October 2023 to 31st March 2024. Muhammad Ramzan, Deputy Director of Punjab Wildlife, said that hunting will be allowed on two days a week i.e. Saturday and Sunday with valid weapons and shooting license. , can be hunted in lakes and reservoirs but hunting will not be allowed in national parks, lakes, springs, headworks and protected areas, a hunter will be allowed to hunt only 10 waterfowl.
According to Punjab Wildlife officials, the department allows hunting of wild animals and birds every year, the aim of this initiative is to reduce the trend of unnecessary and illegal hunting and provide people with proper opportunities for sport and recreation in the form of legal hunting. In order to provide wholesome entertainment in the form of formal and legal hunting as well as promote the spirit of sports hunting among the public.
On the other hand, organizations working for the protection of war life say that the number of these birds is decreasing every year due to the massive hunting of migratory birds.
Prof. Dr. Zulfikar Ali, head of the Department of Biology, Punjab University, says that migratory birds come to Pakistan every year by traveling 3 to 4 thousand kilometers and stay here in different water bodies, lakes and wetlands. There are 700 species of water birds in Pakistan. There are 380 species of migratory birds that come to Pakistan every year, but their numbers are decreasing due to water scarcity, pollution, and illegal hunting. There are 20 seasonal habitats of migratory birds in Pakistan. Out of which ten centers are in Sindh, two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, three in Punjab and five in Balochistan.
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