LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that Punjab is emerging as a model not only for Pakistan but for the entire world in the conservation and promotion of wildlife. “Punjab had the distinction of rescuing 50, 000 birds, 1, 020 wild animals and 30 bears. She said 14, 700 challans had been issued and 1, 050 FIRs registered for wildlife protection, ” the CM said, adding, “Upto 104 areas had been declared Wildlife Protected Areas and three Wildlife Rehabilitation Centres established across Punjab. For the first time, an AI-based survey through thermal drones had been launched to identify a safe habitat for the Punjnad dolphin. “ In her message on the occasion of Wildlife Day, the chief minister said, Jam Pur, from Beat Lundi Patafi to Guddu Barrage, had been declared a safe habitat for the Punjnad Indus Dolphin, with measures being taken to prevent harmful activities in the area. For the first time in Punjab, a regular Wildlife Rangers force had been established, with 544 personnel having completed their training, she added. Formal patrolling and wildlife crime operations had also been launched. Maryam Nawaz said strict enforcement of wildlife laws across the province had resulted in 14, 700 challans being issued, 1, 050 FIRs registered and Rs205 million recovered in fines. She said state-of-the-art vehicles, communication and rescue equipment, protective gear and other operational support had been provided for wildlife protection operations. As many as 950 complaints and cases received through Wildlife Helpline 1107 had been resolved, while 13 modern rescue vehicles had been added to field formations to ensure effective wildlife protection. The chief minister said a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital complex had been established for the treatment of wild animals. For the first time in the history of Punjab, the Wildlife Hospital on Wheels and Mobile Veterinary Clinic projects had also been launched. She said 920 GIS maps had been prepared for the promotion of wildlife across Punjab, while 108 Wildlife Protected Areas had been digitised. Regional centres in Kallar Kahar, Multan, Sahiwal, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Faisalabad had been linked with the GIS mapping system. Maryam Nawaz said GPS collar trackers had been introduced to monitor the safety and movement of wild animals. Emergency veterinary care centres had been established at Lahore Safari Zoo for rescued wild animals, along with quarantine, rehabilitation and rescue recovery support centres. She said an effective awareness campaign for wildlife conservation and promotion had been launched for the first time in Punjab. Seven community-based sanctuaries and seven private wildlife reserves had also been established. The chief minister said Punjab’s first Wildlife Students Internship Programme had been launched, with a monthly scholarship of Rs60, 000. She said Lahore Safari Zoo offered unique facilities including the Savanna Cinema, Giraffe Safari Café and Safari Tree Café. A Wildlife Communication Hub had also been established at Lahore Safari Zoo for information, awareness and nature education. The chief minister said rare African antelopes, giraffes, wild buffaloes, nilgai and other rare wildlife species had been added to Lahore Safari Zoo. She said a monitoring ecosystem and geo-special intelligence system had been established to identify wetlands and marshlands across Punjab. A wildlife detection system using AI-integrated thermal drones had been established for the protection of nine rare wildlife species, she added. Effective measures for the conservation and promotion of urial, nilgai, deer, bear, chinkara and other animals had been made possible through AI and machine-learning-based thermal surveys. Aerial surveys of Kallar Kahar, Neela Wahan, Sanbli and Kundwa lakes had also been completed, she said. The chief minister said Punjab had completed its first technology-enabled wildlife census. Effective amendments had been introduced in decades-old outdated laws to ensure the conservation and promotion of wildlife. She said eco-development had been launched at Bansra Gali, Murree Biodiversity Park and Changa Manga as part of efforts to promote wildlife conservation and biodiversity across Punjab. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
Punjab emerging as a model in conservation, promotion of wildlife
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