ISLAMABAD: Citizens, environmentalists and conservation groups have expressed concerns over the direction of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to transfer the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) to the Ministry of Interior.

They alleged that some groups were eyeing the acquisition of over 3,000 acres within the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) and the adjacent land in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The IWMB, which is currently responsible for the protection and management of the national park, plays a crucial role in safeguarding biodiversity in ecological area.

Speaking at a webinar organised by Devcom-Pakistan on Saturday, citizens termed the move a mala fide decision and a significant threat to the biodiversity in the MHNP. The speakers said the park, home to numerous species of flora and fauna was already under pressure from urban encroachment and illegal activities. The IWMB has been at the forefront of efforts to conserve the park’s unique ecosystem under the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, and its transfer to the interior ministry that primarily focuses on law and order is seen as a dangerous shift in priorities.

Say some groups eyeing acquisition of over 3,000 acres in Margalla Hills and adjacent land in KP

The concerned citizens also demanded transparency in the decision-making process and a thorough investigation into the interests behind this move. They vowed to continue advocating for the preservation of the national park and to seek legal avenues to challenge any actions that threaten its integrity. The citizens urged all Pakistanis to join hands in safeguarding the country’s natural heritage and stand against decisions that compromise the future of environment.

Devcom-Pakistan Executive Director Munir Ahmed said: “There is a growing concern that the prime minister may not have been adequately informed about the implications of this decision or may have been influenced by powerful groups with vested interests. These groups are reportedly eyeing the acquisition of over 3,000 acres of land within the Margalla Hills National Park and the adjacent land in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Citizens fear that the transfer of the IWMB could pave the way for these powerful entities to grab this land, undermining the integrity of the park and its surrounding areas.”

He said the prime minister’s decision contradicted the Supreme Court’s directives aimed at protecting the Margalla Hills National Park. The court had previously ordered the demolition of illegal infrastructure within the park, recognising the critical need to preserve its natural habitat. Citizens fear that placing the IWMB under the Ministry of Interior will allow vested interest groups to undermine these conservation efforts and sidestep the court’s rulings.

Environmentalist Aneela Khan said: “Transferring the IWMB to the Ministry of Interior is a severe blow to the ongoing conservation efforts in the MHNP. This decision appears to be driven by vested interests that seek to exploit the park’s resources rather than protect them.”

Salman Khan, a member of the Friends of Margalla Hills Park, said: “The transfer of the IWMB has sparked fears that the focus on biodiversity conservation will be diminished, leading to increased threats from illegal construction, deforestation, and habitat destruction in the national park.”

Human rights activist Sadia Bokhari said: “We appeal to the prime minister to reconsider this directive and ensure that the IWMB remains under the Ministry of Climate Change, where its mandate to protect the Margalla Hills can be upheld without interference.”

Dr Ibrar Shiwari said: “IWMB was re-established in 2015 on the verdict of Islamabad High court, and placed under the Ministry of Climate Change for its adequate functioning.

Another objective of placing IWMB under the climate change ministry was to work as a watchdog on the environment unfriendly development in the park that was overlooked by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) or done by its own ‘agents’. Before the IHC verdict, MHNP was being degraded and destroyed by CDA who was giving out licences to restaurants or building their own, and developing roads and other infrastructures by cutting trees and soil sent to nurseries, and trails were not managed properly with lots of crime and harassment.”

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2024