ISLAMABAD:
Speakers at a webinar titled “Emerging Threats to Margalla Hills National Park” underlined the critical importance of implementing the Supreme Court (SC) directives to remove encroachments and rehabilitate the park, while emphasizing the broader implications for the biodiversity and resilience to climate change. .
Rina Saeed Khan, Chairman, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), gave an overview of the current status of the Margalla Hills National Park. He highlighted the IWMB’s continued efforts to safeguard the park’s ecosystem despite significant challenges. According to Khan, encroachments, illegal constructions and lack of law enforcement mechanisms remain persistent problems.
He stressed the need for unwavering government support to ensure the long-term protection and ecological rehabilitation of the park. “We have been making significant interventions over the years in confrontation with vested interests in the Park who are supported by some influential individuals in the ranks of the government. Now, without due process, the Ministry of Climate Change (MCC ) will decree to notify the present meeting.”
Khan termed it as an unfortunate development as they were trying to implement the Supreme Court orders. “Our only crime is to implement the SC orders regarding the demolition of Monal. The law was aimed at strengthening the junta, not weakening it. Certain pressure groups are determined to see us fail. The MCC bureaucrats are trying to use the method more twisted interpretation of the Wildlife Act. The law was passed by parliament for the opposite purpose: to strengthen the institution of the board, not weaken it.
Vaqar Zakaria, board member of the IWMB, expressed deep concern about the government’s apparent lack of prioritization of biodiversity and natural habitats. “While authorities often boast about their efforts to combat the impacts of climate change, their actions tell a different story. Biodiversity and natural ecosystems, which are critical to mitigating climate change, are being sacrificed for profit. short term,” he commented.
