Nine giraffes were imported from Dubai for the Lahore Safari Zoo while it is being privatized.
According to the Wildlife Department, the shipment included three male giraffes and six female giraffes.
The Punjab government allocated Rs130 million for this project. Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb facilitated negotiations with federal departments and relevant international agencies. In October 2023, the caretaker government had approved the import of these animals.
The import case for the giraffes had been pending with the Federal Department of Climate Change and international agencies. Efforts are also underway to import three elephants and two rhinos for the Lahore Zoo Safari.
Meanwhile, Senator Sherry Rehman, Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, asked the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination to thoroughly evaluate the impacts of exotic wildlife and flora imports on the biosphere, extending beyond human health risks.
During a committee meeting, a detailed discussion took place regarding the “Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora (Amendment) Bill, 2024,” introduced by Senator Shahadat Awan on September 2, 2024. Senator Rehman highlighted that despite CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) restrictions, exotic species are still being sold in Rawalpindi markets. She emphasized the need for a clear definition of exotic and invasive species to address legislative gaps.
“The spirit of CITES is to control the import and export of invasive species. The lack of a clear definition of invasive species represents a significant legislative deficit,” she stated. Rehman urged the ministry to broaden the current legislation to address potential ecosystem damage caused by these imports.
The Committee also discussed the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), noting that while the targets are ambitious, progress was unsatisfactory. Pakistan is facing record global temperatures, exceeding the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold due to rising emissions.
The Additional Secretary of the Climate Change Ministry informed the Committee that Pakistan has enacted national legislation under CITES. He cautioned that incorporating pathogens into the amendment could lead to confusion, as current definitions in the convention are already comprehensive.
The senator stressed that the amendment should encompass invasive species, including plants, animals, and pathogens, to address environmental and health risks effectively. He referenced the environmental damage caused by the removal of paper mulberry trees in Fatima Jinnah Park as a significant concern.
The committee members debated the need for clarity around the term “invasive,” with some expressing concern that existing laws already cover these issues and that new amendments might lead to redundancy.