KARACHI – Despite collecting Rs 28.431 million as revenue from 2004 to 2008, the Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) is facing issues in departmental reorganisation, implementation of approved projects and establishment of its offices at district level.
The department earned Rs 6.958m in the financial year 2004-05, Rs 7.7m in 2005-06, Rs 7.751m in 2006-07 and Rs 6.022m in the fiscal year 2007-08, but the problems and bottlenecks facing the department remain the same Currently, the department has employed one conservator, two deputy conservators, five assistant conservators, one project officer, one sanctuary warden, one deputy sanctuary warden, three field officers, 20 game officers, 52 game inspectors and 614 game watchers. But several positions at the department are lying vacant including the assistant conservator, one project officer, one game officer, three game inspectors, and 56 game watchers. Moreover, a summary has been submitted to further revoke 22 honorary district game wardens.
To conserve biological diversity for maintaining ecological balance, a comprehensive network of protected areas has been established under the department including one national park, 33 wildlife sanctuaries and 13 game reserves. Meanwhile, under the Annual Development Programme of the SWD, several projects have been initiated that include conservation and rehabilitation of Haleji Lake; establishment of a wildlife sanctuary in Thatta District at a cost of Rs 18.954m, and development of the Khirthar Protected Area Complex (KPAC) from the year 2008-09 to 2012-13 costing Rs 499.895m; Rehabilitation and Captive Breeding of Hog Deer and Native Waterfowl Species at Hazari Forest, Thatta, announced in the year 2006-07 and to be completed by 2010-11 at a cost of Rs 27.292m; Conservation and Propagation of Biodiversity in District Tharparkar from the year 2008-09 to 2012-13 at a cost of Rs 67.858m and Captive Breeding for Conservation, Multiplication of Partridges, Peafowl and Chinkara Gazelle Population at Ganj Forest in Thatta for the year 2008-09 to 2012-13 costing Rs 35.841m. The provincial government has also approved a development project to utilise the enormously rich natural resources of the KPAC, which comprises the Khirthar National Park, Hub Dam Wildlife Sanctuary, Mahal Kohistan Wildlife Sanctuary and a game reserve. The project aims to protect biodiversity and sustainable ecosystem management; maintain population of key wildlife species and their habitats; develop eco-tourism to promote social, cultural, and archaeological heritage, and generate revenue for the welfare of communities and wildlife of the KPAC; strengthen institution building; provide research and management facilities along with the promotion of education and awareness among local communities regarding bio-diversity conservation; and limit human population growth, livestock increase, and land-use expansion.
