Islamabad Wildlife Management Board

Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) is a Pakistani government body operating under the Ministry of Climate Change. It is mandated to protect, manage, and conserve the Margalla Hills National Park as its legal custodian.[1]

Islamabad Wildlife Management Board
اسلام آباد وائلڈ لائف مینجمنٹ بورڈ
AbbreviationIWMB
PredecessorWildlife Management Board
Formation7 July 2015; 9 years ago (2015-07-07)
TypeGovernmental
PurposeEnvironmentalism
Conservation
Ecology
HeadquartersPir Sohawa Road, Islamabad
Coordinates33°43′59.1″N 73°03′34.7″E / 33.733083°N 73.059639°E / 33.733083; 73.059639
Region
Margalla Hills National Park
Methods
  • Lobbying
  • research
  • consultancy
Chairperson
Rina Saeed Khan
Parent organization
Ministry of Climate Change (Pakistan)
Websitehttp://iwmb.org.pk/

It was set up in 2015 under Section 4 of the Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Ordinance 1979. It was officially notified on 7 July 2015 by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.[2][3]

Rina Saeed Khan is the current chairperson of the board,[4][5][6] having been appointed in 2021.[7]

History

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The Federal Government of Pakistan issued the Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Ordinance 1979 to protect the environment and wildlife in the Islamabad Capital Territory. The ordinance provided for the establishment of the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) in 1980, covering the Margalla Hills, Rawal Lake, and Shakarparian. Moreover, a Wildlife Management Board headed

by the Chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA) and composed of CDA as well as federal government officials was also notified under this ordinance. This Board, however, was dysfunctional, while the National Park was being managed by the Environment Wing of CDA without oversight.[8]

On 30 September 2014, Z B Mirza, a zoologist and field expert, filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court, calling to attention the poor condition of the MHNP. A meeting attended by Mirza, the Cabinet Division, and CDA officials led to a discussion of the Board, and the resulting recommendations were sent to the federal government. As a result, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) was notified on 7 July 2015. Dr. Anis-ur-Rehman was appointed the Chairman via a Cabinet Division notification on 10 August 2015.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Marghazar zoo assets handed over to IWMB". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Deaths, lies and videotape: The true story of what happened at Islamabad Zoo". The Express Tribune. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  3. ^ "ABOUT IWMB | IWMB". Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  4. ^ "'We're encroaching into their habitat': Angry mob kills leopard in Azad Kashmir". The Observers - France 24. 14 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  5. ^ Shahid, Jamal (14 February 2022). "Rescued leopard cats released into Margalla Hills". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  6. ^ "Dismay after female leopard shot and dies from injuries in Kashmir". the Guardian. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  7. ^ "The IWMB's quest for ecosystem restoration". The Express Tribune. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Ministry of Climate Change". mocc.gov.pk. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Ministry of Climate Change". mocc.gov.pk. Retrieved 25 February 2022.