Islamabad -UNS: WWF expresses concern at the recent FIR against former Chairperson of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and the actions taken to cast doubt on her integrity. As an organization dedicated to protecting Pakistan’s natural heritage, WWF-Pakistan urges that environmental institutions and those serving them should be supported for fulfilling their legal and conservation mandates. We firmly believe that the protection and conservation of Pakistan’s environment and biodiversity must remain above political, institutional, or personal biases, and urge that all proceedings in this matter be conducted with impartiality and transparency and in accordance with due process.
In June 2024, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal against a 2018 Islamabad High Court judgement, which declared commercial allotment in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) contrary to the law and ordered the demolition of Monal and other restaurants in the Park.
The IWMB, acting in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders in this case, implemented measures to protect the MHNP, a legally designated protected area and one of Pakistan’s most important ecological ecosystems. The Board has also envisioned transforming the Monal restaurant site into a public green space, restoring the area’s ecological integrity and creating an open, resident-friendly environment for citizens to enjoy responsibly. The actions reflected statutory obligation to ensure that all activities within the park align with international conservation principles and safeguards.
Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General WWF-Pakistan stated, “Conservation decisions grounded in legal and scientific principles should be respected and upheld, especially when they serve the broader public interest and align with the country’s global and national environmental commitments. Individuals and institutions acting in good faith to uphold environmental law and protect natural ecosystems deserve institutional support and respect, not retribution.”
Under its former leadership, the IWMB made several notable contributions; from establishing a wildlife rescue center for injured and displaced animals to opening new public trails and introducing a weekly farmers market connecting urban residents with sustainable local produce.
WWF-Pakistan remains committed to providing technical support and coordination to the IWMB and CDA to ensure the restoration and re-wildling of the Margalla Hills Viewpoint Area.
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About WWF-Pakistan: WWF-Pakistan was formed in 1970 to address Pakistan’s growing environmental and conservation issues that affected the flora, fauna, and human population. WWF-Pakistan is a non-profit organization working to preserve, conserve, and save our environment and natural resources. Today, WWF-Pakistan works through 26 offices with a team of almost 250 dedicated staff members. With its head office in Lahore and five regional offices in major cities of Pakistan, it has project offices wherever there is a need and the potential to make a difference.
