ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act 2023, which was passed last week by parliament, elevates and strengthens the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) from a toothless letter-writing body to a fundraising and penalty-imposing organisation against violations of environmental laws.

The legal framework in aid of biological diversity and statutory deficiencies was exactly what the board needed to become more empowered, to stop illegal activities in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP).

“Many thanks to Minister for Climate Change, Senator Sherry Rehman, for saving Margallah Hills National Park. As a true nature lover, she valiantly fought for us. The Act is a gift to the people of the twin cities,” the chairperson of Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Rina Saeed Khan stated on X (formerly Twitter).

“Passing the bill will provide for the protection, preservation and management of nature in the Islamabad Capital Territory. It will now become law as the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act 2023. It will enhance protection for the Margalla National Wildlife Park, which is under constant stress from unchecked development,” Senator Rehman posted on X.

It provides for protection, preservation and management of nature in Islamabad Capital Territory, says chairperson

The basic objective of the Islamabad Nature Act was to provide a comprehensive framework for protection of nature and biodiversity in Islamabad. It introduced the concept of nature (as opposed to only wildlife) which was all encompassing and in line with emerging best practices in the world for protection of biodiversity.

It would also enable the board to upgrade MHNP to demonstrate that the country could fulfil its international obligations relating to biodiversity and climate change and place it in a position to access emerging international financing and support available for protection of biodiversity.

Talking to Dawn, Rina S. Khan said the law ensured financial strength and sustainability by empowering the IWMB to raise funds through collection of fees and charges and apply penalties for violation of national park and wildlife rules as was the established practice in all the provinces and AJK.

It also lay down a transparent process for approval of construction of projects in the MHNP and its buffer zone as well as imposed hefty fines for violations especially for those keeping endangered and exotic animals as pets.

According to the official, earlier the board functioned under the older and weaker Islamabad Wildlife Ordinance 1979, which had loopholes.

Instead of collaborating with the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to implement court orders on environmental laws, now with magisterial powers, the board could physically stop encroachments, charge the roughly 5,000 visitors a day to popular trails in the hills a minimal fee and upgrade the national park by establishing visitors information centres, make checkposts, hire staff and become self-sufficient.

“It took three to four years to draft this law, revise it, scrutinise by the finance and establishment divisions, thoroughly vetted and all we needed was someone to push it and Senator Sherry Rehman took it upon herself and gifted the city of Islamabad,” said Ms Khan, adding the Act was a longstanding demand of IWMB to strengthen the board.

She said the CDA and the board had completely separate mandates. “The CDA is a development body, to look after the city, the board is an environment management body.

After being signed by the president, the Act would become law and the Cabinet Division would pass the rules. “Once the rules are passed, the board will be empowered,” she said.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2023