The Pakistan Air Force has already destroyed one National park, now they are gunning for another one. The IUCN sadly reports on the Maslakh wildlife sanctuary after the PAF moved in: *”All flagships wildlife species have been eliminated from the area”.*

Dawn did a “front page expose”:http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/26/top18.htm on the PAF’s attempt to take over the hingol national park:

bq.. “The PAF is asking for land from the Hingol National Park because it got away with acquiring land from the Maslakh wildlife sanctuary in the Pishin district,” says Tahir Rasheed, national project manager of the Sustainable Use Specialist Group-Central Asia, an NGO involved in habitat and species conservation projects.

p. The whole approach is a fiasco from step one. The Hingol National Park comes under the control of the federal government, and not the provincial govt. Operating completely illegally, the PAF approached the Baluchistan govt. and surveyed the national park, and even approached the few local inhabitants asking them to relocate elsewhere for a token sum.

There are educated people in the PAF, so they must be aware that they cannot “buy” National park land. It’s a land grab, plain and simple. The Director of Public Relations, PAF, Air Commodore Sarfraz Ahmad Khan, “says”:http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/27/nat21.htm: “Pakistan Air Force has put up a proposal to the Government of Balochistan for acquisition of a piece of land to establish weapons trial range for JF-17 project.” The Air Force seems to have forgotten that it already has a number of weapons trial ranges around the country. The JF-17 is not some super plane that it needs 80,000 acres to test out its weapons, nor does Pakistan have the planes or weaponary to require multiple firing ranges around the country.

After Pakistan ratified the “Convention on Biological Diversity”:http://www.biodiv.org/default.shtml, the “Global Environment Facility”:http://www.gefweb.org/ (GEF) through the World Bank provided funding of 26.8 million US dollars to Pakistan to work in three globally significant areas for its important biodiversity: Machiara National Park in AJK, Hingol National Park in Balochistan and Chitral Gol National Park in NWFP.

This is where catch 22 comes in: reality is stranger than the truth. While the World Bank is spending “26.8 million US dollars funding conservation projects”:http://www.gefweb.org/Outreach/outreach-PUblications/Project_factsheet/Pakistan-prot-3-bd-wb-eng.pdf in the Hingol National Park, the Pakistan Air Force is trying to destroy it.

The armed forces already “control about 12 million acres, constituting about 12 per cent of total state land”:http://newsline.com.pk/NewsJul2006/cover1jul2006.htm. That is a staggering figure. The military has become addicted to cheap land, and like any druggie keeps lurching out grabbing more and more, damn the consequences to itself and the rest of Pakistan.

Forgotten in all the noise is the fact that one of Hinduism’s holiest site is located in the Hingol National Park. This is a potential tourist hot spot if managed carefully, as for millions of people this is a must visit pilgrimage site. Sustained and managed eco-tourism would provide a much needed boost to the local economy, as well as improve Pakistan’s image considerable, along with promoting friendlier ties with India. After partition the Pakistan govt. had declared it a prohibited area for residents of India but devotees residing in Pakistan and other foreign countries go on pilgrimage to Hinglaj regularly. Recently, Jaswant Singh visited Hinglaj in Jan 2006, but sadly, it still remains a no-go area for Indians.

Once the Pakistan Air Force is through with the park, all these concerns will be moot – the animals dead and the shrine bombed to smithereens.

h4. news reports

_listed by date_

* “Newsline: The New Land Barons?”:http://www.newsline.com.pk/NewsJul2006/cover1jul2006.htm
* “Dawn July 26, 2006: PAF swoops on Hingol National Park”:http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/26/top18.htm
* “Dawn Editorial, July 27, 2006″:http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/27/ed.htm#3
* “Dawn July 27, 2006: PAF clarifies position on Hingol Park”:http://www.dawn.com/2006/07/27/nat21.htm
* “The News August 7, 2006: Carving out pieces of a national park”:http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=18853

h4. other, related resources

* “Convention on Biological Diversity”:http://www.biodiv.org/default.shtml
* “Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency”:http://www.environment.gov.pk/
* “IUCN: Balochistan Conservation Strategy”:http://www.bcs.iucnp.org/
* “GEF Programme in Pakistan”:http://www.gefpak.gov.pk/

_this entry is a work in progress_

!http://photos12.flickr.com/15040030_a6512bb16e_o.jpg! The Punjab Wildlife Department’s nonchalant response to this crisis proves them unworthy custodians of wildlife in the Punjab. Instead of waiting for legislation to arm them with a right to action they should be actively formulating laws and stretching definitions that would allow them to fulfill their responsibilities. If nothing else, Pakistan’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act is sufficient authority to put a stop to this.

Turtles are one of the oldest continuing species on this planet, representing over 200 million years of evolutionary history. Their populations should be protected and valued as a national natural heritage.

We [the undersigned] demand that this senseless violence come to an end immediately, that the perpetrators be arrested and fined and the relevant departments made to carry out their mandates.

Pakistan Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
www.pawspakistan.org

1. Maheen Zia (PAWS)
Filmmaker / Teacher, Karachi

!http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41157000/jpg/_41157897_bears.jpg! The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) said 20 fights involving 30 bears and 100 dogs had been planned for a village festival.

The three-minute fights pit pairs of fighting dogs against a tethered and toothless bear.

The WSPA said Pakistan’s move was a “tremendous victory” over bear-baiting.

It said its representatives had been monitoring the situation in Pakistan and had tipped off local authorities who stepped in to curb the bear-baiting.

h4. Decree

The BBC’s Zaffar Abbas in Islamabad says the controversial practice is still carried out in some parts of the country.

He says the events are hosted by powerful landlords in rural areas and usually occur between November and April.

The WSPA says the authorities have now become more responsive to its appeals.

A WSPA statement said the large bear-baiting event was planned to take place during an annual village festival in Shah Jewiena in the Jhang district of Punjab province.

Wildlife officials stopped bears being brought into the festival or the surrounding area.

Victor Watkins of WSPA said: “This is a tremendous victory in the fight against illicit bear-baiting events.

“We congratulate the Pakistan government on its diligent action and look forward to supporting further work to ensure that bear-baiting is consigned to the history books once and for all.”

The WSPA set up an information stand at the festival and said up to 9,000 people visited to learn more about animal welfare and bear-baiting.

In 2001, President Pervez Musharraf issued a decree calling for the enforcement of the existing ban on bear baiting, reinforcing Pakistan’s Prevention of Cruelty Act.

Gen Musharraf also directed that confiscated bears be moved to a WSPA-built sanctuary in Kund Park in Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province.

Date: 20th to 22nd May, 2005
Venue: Safari Park, Karachi

Organised by the City District Government Karachi, Avian Colours 2005 claims to be the first bird show of its kind in Pakistan.

Many species of birds will be on display, including birds of prey and rare birds bred in captivity. Birds entered in the show will be eligible for prizes such as ‘best bird in show’, ‘best talking bird’, etc. A number of bird sellers will be setting up shop at the venue.

The opening ceremony will be at 5pm on Friday, May 20th.

Entries open. For more information contact

Dr. Fareed Hassan Qadri
DDO, Safari Park
021-9243357

Mr. Javed Aslam Khan
Member, Organising Committee
0333 2155320, 0300 2988511

The stray dogs of Pakistan need your help.

There are over a 100,000 stray dogs roaming the streets of Karachi, Pakistan. In an attempt to combat the spread of rabies, civic authorities have been killing these dogs by strychnine poisoning and shooting with guns. They have even involved the general public in this by offering cash as reward for every dog killed. The proof? The dog’s tail…

Not only are these methods cruel and excessive, they are also ineffective in reducing animal populations as well as prevention in the spread of rabies. The WHO (World Health Organization) recommended long term strategy of catch/neuter/vaccinate/release is the only effective and humane method for dealing with rabies and stray populations.

According to a news report in Dawn newspaper (May 11, 2005), the Karachi City Nazim (mayor), Niamatullah Khan, has decided to launch a major campaign against stray dogs, saying that “the campaign will continue until their total elimination.” In this regard, he has requested the EDO Health Dr. Khalid Hussain Shaikh to provide the “required number of capsules for killing stray dogs”. Remember, this money will be coming from your tax ruppees.

On a meeting with the City Nazim on May 9, 2005, a concerned group of citizens urged the Nazim to consider the WHO recommended strategy, but according to a May 11 report in Dawn newspaper http://dawn.com/2005/05/11/local2.htm, the suggestion seems to have been dismissed altogether by him.

There is another meeting scheduled with the Nazim on May 30, 2005 in this regard. We urge you to voice your opinion publicly in any capacity regarding the implementation of the WHO recommended humane strategy as the time to do that is now.

Please write a polite email/letter to the Karachi City Nazim to insist that killing dogs is an ineffective approach and has never worked in Pakistan or any other country of the world. Remind him that under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890, there is a penalty for cruelty to animals, punishable with a fine and imprisonment. Please urge him to stop the mindless killing of dogs and consider implementing a strategy that has been scientifically proven to be effective in many cities of the world.

Let us put an end to the madness. Together we can make it happen.

Mahera Omar
PAWS
www.pawspakistan.org

Karachi City Nazim Niamatullah Khan
citynazim@karachicity.gov.pk
City Complex, Civic Center, Hasan Square,
Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulshan Town, Karachi
Off: 9232401,9232400
Fax: 9215117-9232406
Mob: 0300-8256154

Dr. Khalid Shaikh
Executive District Officer (Health)
City District Government Karachi
edohealth@karachicity.gov.pk
Ph: 021-9230246
Ph: 021-4644887
Mob: 0300-8993704
Fax: 021-4645161

General Pervez Musharraf
President of Pakistan
http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/W … ssage.aspx

Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan
Governor Sindh
governor@governorsindh.gov.pk
92-21-9201201-3

Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim
CHIEF MINISTER OF SINDH
IIIrd Floor, New Sindh Secretariat,
Building No. 1, Karachi, Sindh.
Tel: 021-9211949-9211957

Send letters to the editors of leading newspapers in Pakistan

DAWN
letters@dawn.com

The Friday Times
tft@lhr.comsats.net.pk

Daily Times
letters@dailytimes.com.pk

Pakistan Observer
observer@isb.comsats.net.pk

The names and contact information of your nearest Pakistan Ambassador or High Commissioner can be found here:

List of Embassies with websites:

Australia: http://www.pakistan.org.au

Canada: http://www.pakmission.ca

Denmark: http://www.ambassade.dk/pakiscphe.php3

Greece: http://www.pak-embassy.gr

Korea: http://www.pakistan-korea-trade.org

Japan: http://www.pakistanemb.itgo.com

Malaysia: http://www3.jaring.my/pakistanhc

Netherlands: http://www.embassyofpakistan.com

Oman: http://www.geocities.com/pakembassyoman/homepage.html

Poland: http://www.pakembwaw.com.pl

Russia: http://www.pakistanembassy.ru/indexe.htm

South Africa: http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/techie/754

Sweden: http://www.pakistanembassy.se

Ukraine: http://www.pak-emb.kiev.ua

United Kingdom: http://www.pakmission-uk.gov.pk/HC/index.asp

United States: http://www.embassyofpakistan.org

Uzbekistan: http://www.geocities.com/pakembtash

List of Embassies without websites:

Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing, China – No. 1, Dongzhimenwai San Li Tun, Beijing 100600. Tel: 86 10 6532 2504. Fax: 86 10 653 22715.

Embassy of Pakistan in Cairo, Egypt – 8, El Saluli Street, Dokki, Giza, Cairo. Tel: 20 2 748 7504,748 7806. Fax: 20 2 748 0310.

Embassy of Pakistan in Paris, France – 18, Rue Lord Byron, 75008 Paris. Tel: 33 1 4562 2332. Fax: 33 1 4562 8915.

Embassy of Pakistan in Berlin, Germany – Schaperstr-29, Wilmersdorf 10719, Berlin. Tel: 49 30 2124 4299, 2124 4203. Fax: 49 30 2124 4210.

Embassy of Pakistan in Budapest, Hungary – Adonisz utca 3/A, Budapest 1125. Tel: 36 1 355 8017. Fax: 36 1 375 1402.

High Commission of Pakistan in New Delhi, India – 2/50-G, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Tel: 91 11 611 0 601, 611 0602. Fax: 91 11 687 2339, 688 8330,688 8353.

Embassy of Pakistan in Rome, Italy – Via Della Camilluccia 682, 00135 Rome. Tel: 39 6 3630 1775, 329 4836. Fax: 39 6 3630 1936, 3630 4736.

Embassy of Pakistan in Tokyo, Japan – 2-14-9 Moto Azabu, Minato-Ku, Tokyo. Tel: 813 3454 4861, 3454 4862. Fax: 813 3457 0341, 3451 4280, 3455 1481.

Embassy of Pakistan in Beirut, Lebanon – 11th Floor, Shell Building, Australia Street, Rouche Beirut. Tel: 961 1 86 3041. Fax: 961 1 864 583.

High Commission of Pakistan in Port Louis, Mauritius – Anglo Mauritius House, 7th Floor, Intendence Street, P.O. Box 289, Port Louis. Tel: 230 212 547, 208 7969. Fax: 230 212 6548.

High Commission of Pakistan in Lagos, Nigeria – 4, Molade Okoya Thomas Street, Victoria Island, P.O. Box 2450, Lagos. Tel: 234 1 774 2380, 261 4710. Fax: 234 1 614 822.

Embassy of Pakistan in Oslo, Norway – Eckersbergsgt-20, 0244 Oslo 1. Tel: 47 22 555 470, 555 227. Fax: 47 22 555 097.

Embassy of Pakistan in Lisbon, Portugal – Avanida da Republica, 20-1st Floor, 1050-192 Lisbon. Tel: 351 1 353 8446, 353 8547. Fax: 351 1 315 8805.

Embassy of Pakistan in Hanoi, Vietnam – 8th Floor Daeha Business Centre, 360 Kim Ma Street, Badinh District, Hanoi. Tel: 844 771 6420, 771 6421. Fax: 844 771 6418.

PAWS recognizes the following rights of animals:

Right to life and expression of normal behavioral needs
Right to nourishment
Right to safety/protection from threat, physical or otherwise
Right to natural habitats and ample space(s) to prosper
Right to treatment

As a former citizen of Karachi, I am appalled to learn that the mayor of Karachi Mr. Niamatullah Khan has decided to poison Karachi’s 100,000 dogs in an effort to solve the city’s stray dogs problem. Please note that such measures are barbaric and ineffective. There are humane and more effective solutions available and were being presented to him by the concerned citizens of Karachi, and by the Pakistan Animal Welfare Society.

But the mayor has shown total disregard for their inputs and is resorting to the practices of medieval ages.

Please use the influence of your good office and help stop this insanity that will only encourage cruelty to animals and put Pakistan back on the map of backward and rogue states. Please also note that there is a direct linkage between crimes and cruelty to animals as has been researched and documented by the Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals USA.

Not too long ago, when I was visiting Karachi and promoted the ethics and philosophy of Animal Rights I was overwhelmed by the positive response of its citizen to the point that the prestigious Pakistani Journal SOUTHASIA put out two issues on Animal Rights where one of those was an exclusive on Animal Rights. The journal was then given commendation by the Ark Trust Inc. during its annual Genesis Award Ceremony at the Beverly Hills, California. USA. These awards are given to the media around the globe for promoting the cause for Animal Rights. At the same time Pakistan Art Council, Pakistan Medical Association and my own organization Engineers and Scientists for Animal Rights had sponsored an art exhibit where children had presented powerful graphics promoting compassion for animals. I was very much encouraged to see Pakistan moving in the direction where the developed nations are. The upcoming actions from the Mayor of Karachi is about the change all that

I hope you will take time out of your busy schedule and look into this matter

Syed Rizvi
President
Engineers and Scientists for Animal Rights
San Jose/ Silicon Valley
California, USA 95110

Phone 408 971 6657
Mobile 408 393 6657