World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) on Tuesday demanded for public destruction of seized illegal leather jackets with fur trimmings, which were confiscated by Pakistan Custom officials earlier in September this year. The WWF-P officials have lauded the pro-active stance of the Ministry of Climate Change and Customs Authorities, particularly Dr Amna Naeem, for fining the exporter involved in this illegal trade and for confiscating the consignment.
According to Uzma Khan, Director Biodiversity at WWF-P, the fur trimmed leather jackets had fox and jackal fur on them and they went against provincial wildlife Laws and Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act 2012, which is a ratification of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The call to destroy the seized jackets also follows these national and international rules, she added.
The WWF-P is stressing the need to take legal action against the culprits, in line with Traffic International (wildlife trade monitoring network) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and as per Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act 2012. In a letter written to the Federal Board of Revenue, the WWF stressed the need for protecting officials within the customs department and wildlife departments who uphold and follow rules and guidelines to protect the biodiversity of Pakistan. It has not received any reply from FBR. WWF-P Director General Ali Hassan Habib said WWF-P was fully committed to nature conservation and that it was actively working with Traffic International, which monitors and controls the illegal trade of wild fauna and flora.