LOWER DIR: Wildlife department’s divisional forest officer Navidul Haq has said hunting has been banned from February to August in all the forests of Lower Dir as this is the breeding period of birds.

Talking to reporters on Friday, he said the hunters could get a no-objection certificate for hunting with payment of Rs5,000 fee per day during the specified months. He said nobody would be allowed to hunt during the banned months.

Mr Haq said the birding centre in Manogay near Timergara had a variety of species, including partridges, black partridges and Bora birds.

He said the wildlife department was committed to preserving birds and other wild animals for maintaining natural beauty of Dir.

The official said there had been 44 watchers, six head watchers and as many deputy rangers serving in Lower and Upper Dir. He said markhors migrated to the forests of Kumrat from Chitral during severe snowfall.

The DFO asked locals to extend cooperation to the wildlife department for preservation of birds and animals.

BRIDGE OPENED: The authorities opened the Khazana Bypass Bridge to all kinds of vehicular traffic the other day.

Rebuilt at a cost of Rs300 million, the earlier bridge was washed away by flash floods in 2015. Then MPA Izazul Mulk Afkari had got its approval for reconstruction in 2018.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority opened the newly-built bridge to heavy traffic during a function.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2021