ISLAMABAD, Sept 17: Subcommittee of the Senate Standing Committee on Environment on Wednesday expressed shock on learning that army helicopters were being used to hunt precious wild animals while the highups were mum about the issue.

The issue was raised by Senator Sardar Jamal Khan Leghari in a meeting here which was presided over by Senator Bibi Yasmeen Shah.

Directing the environment secretary to take up the issue with the defence secretary or the chief of army staff, the members pointed out that the army should restrict its activities to defending the borders.

Suggesting a complete ban on hunting endangered species, the committee recommended that a separate wildlife department be set up in Balochistan.

Forests were being controlled by the forest as well as by the wildlife departments which were creating problems in preserving the precious wildlife, the meeting learnt.

The members said the National Council for Conservation of Wildlife (NCCW) was almost a dead organisation and suggested its revamping to make it effective and vibrant.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Jamali suggested that the government should run breeding centres/zoos which must provide an integrated training programme in which foreign experts in wildlife/veterinary experts should come to Pakistan and conduct courses for local veterinary experts to enable them to gain technical skills to protect wild animals.

He also noted with concern that precious animals were dying in various zoos of the country because of lack of proper to care.

Senator Bibi Yasmeen Shah appreciated the wildlife department for initiating community-based trophy hunting programme with a view to saving endangered species like snow leopards, Suleman Markhor, Astore Markhor and Western Tragopan.

The committee said it would extend its support to the wildlife department in removing bottlenecks in the way of smooth implementation of policies aimed at protecting and conserving the wildlife.

Meanwhile, the Sub-Committee in its meeting on Monday called upon the government to initiate urgent measures for protecting the precious wildlife particularly the migratory wildlife and to take tangible steps for preventing the habitat destruction throughout the country.

The senate body recommended special allocation in the PSDP for setting up special wildlife fund for Balochistan.

The meeting also called for improving the inter-provincial coordination for achieving better results and to enhance public awareness of the utility and importance of wildlife.

The meeting also underscored the need of effective monitoring of the use of modern technology for ensuring a better environment and natural habitat for the wildlife.

The committee was informed about the functions and performance of NCW it was informed that NCCW formulates polities for conservation of wildlife and coordinate with the provinces for implementation of these policies in addition to keeping a liaison with the international agencies and civil society organisations for conservation of wildlife.