The Punjab Wildlife & Parks Department has constituted a 3-member committee to look in to reservations of animal and birds' traders regarding the issuance of licenses and submit a report suggesting solutions. The committee was constituted at a meeting between the wildlife department officers and office-bearers of the birds/animal traders here on Monday.
Traders were of the view that they would be paying dual taxes/duties in case of enforcement of license on sale/purchase of birds/animals. They informed the wildlife department officers that they pay duty at import stage of birds and animals and license fee would increase their cost. They also demanded that there should not be any license for exotic birds.
Director General Wildlife & Parks Department Punjab Khalid Ayaz Khan constituting the committee also ordered the department to stop giving any notice to the traders till their reservations were removed. D. G. Wildlife said that the Punjab government is likely to amend the Punjab Wildlife Act for bringing all those dealing in trade of animals and birds in to the net of law and provide them protection so as they could continue their business openly without any fear.
He said the procedure of issuance of permits for import and export of animals would also be improved so as traders should not face any hiccups, licenses to bring or send animals/birds from one province to another province would be issued within 3 days.