ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, and States and Frontier Regions held a session to review the trophy hunting programme and conservation efforts in Gilgit-Baltistan. Chaired by Senator Asad Qasim, the meeting highlighted the financial and ecological impact of the Trophy Hunting Programme, which has been marked as a successful model for community-based conservation. The programme, initiated in 1998, has been instrumental in promoting wildlife conservation and generating substantial revenue for local communities.

According to the Senate of Pakistan, the meeting provided a comprehensive briefing on the regulations governing wildlife conservation in Gilgit-Baltistan, including the GB Wildlife Preservation Act, 1975, which mandates controlled hunting. The Trophy Hunting Programme now operates across 63 Community Controlled Hunting Areas and allocates 80 percent of its revenue to local communities. Officials reported that the programme has generated over Rs. 1,008.72 million in the past five hunting seasons, despite challenges like the Iran-US conflict impacting foreign participation.

Officials further detailed the species involved in the programme, including Astor Markhor, Blue Sheep, and Himalayan Ibex, with specific quotas allocated for both exportable and non-exportable permits. The CITES Management Authority under the Ministry of Climate Change plays a key role in allocating these quotas, ensuring compliance with international conservation standards.

Senator Agha Shahzaib Durrani raised concerns about the Astor Markhor population and hunting quotas, prompting a discussion about the need to balance conservation goals with revenue generation. The Committee concluded with a decision to form a sub-committee to conduct further investigations and consultations in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Parallel to the hunting programme review, the Committee also examined forestry management in the region, expressing concerns over illegal logging and the need for sustainable forest management practices under the Gilgit-Baltistan Forest Act, 2019. Additionally, discussions were held regarding maintenance allowances for beneficiaries of former princely states, with the Committee deferring further deliberations to gather more detailed information for subsequent meetings.