ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Friday gave the final nod to the Islamabad Wildlife Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management (Amendment) Bill 2020 which proposes including parliamentarians as members of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB).

Chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change discussed the bill proposed by Senator Mohammad Javed Abbasi, which focuses four key amendments to the existing ordinance of 1979.

The committee believed that the spirit of the bill was guided by the consideration to bring about fundamental changes to institutionalise IWMB as a focal institution in preserving and promoting Margalla Hills National Park.

The committee observed that the bill aimed to make the board truly representative in terms of professional experience and expertise.

Senator Mushahid Hussain said Senator Abbasi’s specific contention about including parliamentarians as members of the IWMB would help serve the objective of making the board more representative.

The step will make board truly representative in terms of professional experience, expertise, committee believes

“They do qualify for the position as members of the board as they can act as a bridge between the government, public opinion and the lawmakers. In any case parliamentarians can be members of IWMB or any other such board since it was not an office of profit,” he said.

Senator Mushahid observed that the bill would be a step forward in improving the functioning of the IWMB.

The committee recognised the efforts and contribution of the new IWMB chairperson, Rina Saeed Khan, for her knowledge and expertise in conservation of nature.

However, the Ministry of Climate Change opposed the bill. Secretary Ministry of Climate Change Naheed S. Durrani said the government planned to introduce comprehensive legislation in this regard.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2021