The IWMB team in Nov 2022 raided a clothing store in F-6 sector of Islamabad and confiscated outfits made from wild animal hides. According to the IWMB spokesperson, the team had impounded warm clothing made from the skin of wild animals, including Mink, Fox, Tiger and Rabbit, which was prohibited under law.

The apparels included sweaters, hats, jackets, neck wear and other accessories. He added that poaching of wildlife was a punishable offense in Islamabad.

Many in Pakistan believe that the manufacturing and sale of fur products should be banned all over the country as it has become a sign of cruelty towards animals. Manufacturing of fur products does not also cause the suffering and deaths of animals, but the production of fur contributes to climate change, land devastation, pollution, and water contamination. There is a complete ban on the sale of fur products in Islamabad and the relevant authorities take action against those who are found involved in violation of this law. But these laws should be introduced all Pakistan to protect animals and stop the degradation of the natural environment.

Fur clothing is beloved by many not only for its durability but also for its timeless appeal. Its style never goes out of fashion, and, contrary to popular belief, it is not only worn for formal occasions, the people also wear it during their visits, especially to northern areas of Pakistan. It is our duty to protect wildlife, so manufacturing and sale of fur products should be banned. Animals have a vital role in maintaining ecological balance so their killing also poses threat to the natural environment.

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has also said “This disgusting trade in fur coats must stop in Pakistan. The world has moved onto fake fur. Why are we still killing our local wildlife species and making fur coats and selling them in markets? We will be cracking down hard on all such markets in Islamabad.”

Many groups confine animals such as foxes, rabbits, and sheep in small, barren, wire cages for their entire lives to get their fur. The conservationists are of the view that no matter how much fur is used, from an animal welfare perspective, real fur is never ‘ethically correct’, so people can use artificial fur to serve their craving for fashion.

In China, there are no laws to protect the welfare of animals on fur farms.

According to the Swiss Animal Protection, animals may be skinned alive.

Fur farms in Shandong province hold the highest number of animals, followed by Heilongjiang province and then Jilin province. Hebei province acts as the hub for the marketing of fur. At the Shangcun market in Hebei province, 35 million fur skins are traded each year.

It was in the Shangcun-Shangcun market that a 14 minute video was secretly produced in 2005 by the Swiss Animal Protection which shows the skinning of raccoon dogs, foxes and other animals that are still alive and even struggling.

The animals are stunned with repeated blows to the head, or by being slammed on the ground.

The animals are injured and may convulse, tremble or attempt to crawl away.

The skinning may begin while the animal is conscious or regaining consciousness. Desperate and writing in agony, animals hopelessly try to defend themselves even to the point where all the skin had been forced off … breathing, heart beat … and eyelid movements were evident for 5 to 10 minutes.