The World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) acknowledging the efforts of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in establishing ‘Migratory birds endowment fund’, has said the step would help conserve natural habitat.
The WMBD-an international awareness-raising campaign on the protection of migratory birds – also mentioned that the step taken by the prime minister prior to wintering season in Pakistan would support the conservation migratory birds.
“Prior to wintering seasons of migratory birds in Pakistan, PM Nawaz has approved the establishment of an endowment fund titled ‘Migratory Birds and Houbara Bustard Endowment Fund’ with an initial capitalization of Pak Rupees 250 million,” the WMBD said on its website.
PM Nawaz has approved rules of the fund, which have also been notified by the Ministry of Climate Change, according to the PM Media Office in its statement.
The prime minister’s focal person will coordinate the operation of the Fund. This year’s theme of WMBD is ‘Stop the illegal killing, taking and trade of migratory Birds’.
The founding partners of WMBD include United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), African- Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and Wetlands International.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon in his message for WMBD has termed migratory birds a symbols of inter-connectedness of life on earth and said he fully supported the global campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the threats these birds face, from habitat destruction to pollution and climate change.
Extreme weather in Russia forces many precious species of birds to leave their home in search of moderate weather to South. On their way, they make a stopover at different lakes and water reservoirs in Pakistan, including Tanda Dam (Kohat) and Haleji, Keenjhar and Lungsee lakes.
According to data available, about one million birds migrate from Siberia every year, including houbara bustards, cranes, teals, pintails, mallards, geese, spoon bills, waders and pelicans, using the Indus Flyway, also known as the International Migratory Bird Route Number 4, covering a distance of about 4,500 km.