LAHORE, Aug 11: Governor Khalid Maqbool allowed on Sunday the establishment of wildlife farms and game reserves in private sector for the protection and growth of wildlife in the province.

Presiding over a meeting of the Punjab Wildlife Management Board, he said the country would have to take advantage of the experiments by the developed countries regarding the preservation and breeding of rare animals and birds.

The governor said it was also required to make people care for the wildlife so that these could be saved from extinction.

He said interested people would be provided with limited opportunity of hunting as per the rules and regulations. However, it would be ensured that no species of animals or birds was endangered because of the limited hunting.

The meeting allowed the trophy hunting of Urial on an experimental basis and decided that a survey be conducted in the bordering areas like Changa Manga, Head Qadarabad and Taunsa Barrage to check the possibility of allowing the trophy hunting of deer.

The governor directed improvement of all breeding farms in the province and fixing new annual targets for them. He also directed prevention of illegal hunting of houbara bustard and ensure implementation of laws regarding the protection of the wildlife with the help of the district governments.

He sanctioned Rs 00 million for the provision of wireless system, weapons and transport to the wildlife department in a phased programme and directed that instead of the appointment of honorary game wardens, district conservation committees comprising elected district government members should be constituted.

He directed reconstitution of the Punjab Wildlife Management Board which would now meet every after six months.

A technical committee was constituted to check technical aspects of the applications for the establishment of private wildlife farms and game reserves. It would recommend the applications for approval to the board.