At a Safari Club International Pakistan fundraiser, Acting President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani called for coordinated policies and inclusion of hunters, communities and wildlife professionals in conservation planning.
Gilani said conservation succeeds when parliament, government, local communities, hunters, outfitters and conservation organisations work together.
He argued that lawful, ethical and sustainable hunting can support conservation by delivering benefits to communities living with wildlife.
Gilani urged a legislative and policy framework that incorporates views and field experience of local communities, wildlife professionals, hunters and hunting outfitters.
Gilani described Pakistan as having extraordinary biodiversity and notable wildlife. He emphasized that protecting that natural heritage is a shared responsibility that requires cooperation among multiple actors: parliament, the government, local communities, hunters, hunting outfitters and conservation organisations.
He said conservation efforts succeed when those groups collaborate and exchange experience. Gilani made a practical case for including lawful, ethical and sustainably managed hunting as one component of conservation, asserting that it can generate meaningful benefits for communities living alongside wildlife when conducted responsibly.
The acting president called for a legislative and policy framework that explicitly incorporates the views and experience of affected stakeholders: communities, wildlife professionals, hunters and hunting outfitters. He highlighted licensed hunting outfitters as a conduit between hunters, wildlife authorities and local communities and said their field experience can inform sustainable hunting and wildlife management.
Gilani asked that policies be transparent, consistent and practical so they deliver visible results on the ground. He stressed that federal and provincial institutions must work together during policy development and implementation, and that stakeholders' voices should be heard when measures affecting them are drafted.
Role of organisations and international cooperation
Gilani acknowledged SCI and the SCI Foundation as organisations that can support conservation, wildlife management, education and international cooperation while representing responsible hunters. He framed events like the gala as opportunities to share international experience and to showcase Pakistani knowledge across diverse ecological regions.
Gilani framed healthy wildlife populations, resilient local communities, effective laws and responsible hunting as interconnected elements that influence conservation success and Pakistan's natural heritage for future generations. His remarks point to a policy approach that balances protection, sustainable use and community development rather than excluding stakeholders who live and work in wildlife areas.
The event included Syed Sumsam Bukhari, chairman of SCI Pakistan and former federal and provincial minister, former ministers, international delegates, SCI members, and representatives of federal and provincial wildlife authorities.
The acting president's message centers on coordinated governance, inclusive policy-making and practical measures that bring together conservation goals with livelihoods and regulated hunting practices. He urged concrete frameworks and institutional cooperation to translate those principles into actions on the ground.
صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری—فائل فوٹوصدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری نے کہا ہے کہ درختوں کا تحفظ اور شجر کاری قومی ذمے داری اور اہم ترجیح...
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