ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Tuesday noted with concern the decline in revenue from trophy hunting due to reduced participation by foreign hunters amid regional tensions. Besides, the committee also expressed concern over illegal forest cutting in the northern region.

The concern was raised when the Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan and States and Frontier Regions reviewed the trophy hunting programme in Gilgit-Baltistan, highlighting its role in wildlife conservation and community development while calling for further scrutiny of quotas and forest management practices.

Held under Senator Asad Qasim, the meeting was attended by senators Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto and Faisal Saleem Rehman, along with senior officials. Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani participated as a special guest.

Officials informed the committee that wildlife conservation in Gilgit-Baltistan was governed by the Wildlife Preservation Act, 1975, which allowed regulated hunting. They noted that Khunjerab National Park, established in 1975, marked the beginning of formal conservation efforts, later strengthened by community participation under natural resource management initiatives introduced in the late 1980s.

Committee alarmed by illegal forest cutting in northern region

The trophy hunting programme, launched in 1998 with the support from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), currently operated in 63 community controlled hunting areas. Under the 2019 guidelines, 80pc of the revenue generated was allocated to local communities, with the remaining 20pc retained by the government.

The programme covered three species - Astor Markhor, Blue Sheep and Himalayan Ibex. Officials said quotas included four permits for Astor Markhor, eight exportable and six non-exportable permits for Blue Sheep and 50 each for exportable and non-exportable Himalayan Ibex.

The committee was told that the CITES Management Authority determined hunting quotas, particularly for endangered species such as the Astor Markhor. Over the past five years, a quota of 590 animals was approved, resulting in 319 successful hunts, including 17 Markhor, 39 Blue Sheep and 263 Ibex.

During the same period, the programme generated over Rs1 billion, of which more than Rs806 million was distributed among local communities. However, officials noted a decline in revenue in the 2025-26 seasons due to reduced participation by foreign hunters amid regional tensions.

Responding to queries on population estimates, officials said initial data was collected by local communities and verified through field surveys, with minor variations considered normal. The population of Astor Markhor was estimated at around 7,500.

Senator Durrani suggested reviewing hunting quotas, citing natural mortality and competition among males, and emphasised the need to curb illegal hunting while enhancing conservation benefits.

Following detailed deliberations, the committee constituted a subcommittee to examine the programme, directing it to visit Gilgit-Baltistan, consult stakeholders and submit a report within 30 days.

The committee also expressed concern over illegal forest cutting in the region. Officials informed members that forest cover in Gilgit-Baltistan stood at 4.82pc, with a significant portion in Diamer classified as private forests under the Forest Act, 2019. The committee stressed the need for stricter enforcement and a transparent system for forest use.

In addition, the committee reviewed maintenance allowances for beneficiaries of former princely states, with an annual allocation of Rs40.9 million. The matter was deferred, with officials directed to provide further details on expenditures and administrative mechanisms in the next meeting.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2026