[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]In response to a funding shortage, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has opted to generate revenue by instituting fees for activities conducted within the protected area of Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP). IWMB Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan unveiled this decision during the launch of the board’s new website over the weekend.
Previously, educational institutions, civil society organizations, NGOs, and private entities engaged in activities such as hiking, trekking tours, and awareness campaigns within the national park without charge. However, organizers are now required to complete a one-page form to obtain permission, with the board granting one-day permits.
Despite potential resistance from the public, the chairperson acknowledged that financial constraints compelled the IWMB to discontinue free visits. The newly introduced website, developed by volunteer Abu Bakar at a nominal cost, was also revealed during the ceremony.
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Chairperson Khan highlighted the closure of stone crushers as per Supreme Court orders but pointed out that the issue of littering, particularly plastic pollution, persists in the national park. Given limited funds and staff, the board heavily relies on 200 dedicated volunteers who routinely clean up the park on Sundays. To generate funds for conservation, the board has introduced paid guided tours of Trail-6.
Despite financial challenges, the IWMB has effectively tackled hunting and poaching, particularly in the vicinity of Quaid-i-Azam University. Furthermore, the board’s wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center, situated at the former Islamabad Zoo, plays a crucial role as a resource for trained staff handling injured and traumatized wild, stray, and domestic animals.
Chairperson Khan underscored the board’s commitment to wildlife rescue, citing instances where they successfully saved black bears, a Bengal tiger, and numerous monkeys. She also mentioned the release of a wild leopard, rescued from DHA, into the MHNP to prevent panic.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
