A dispute has surfaced between the federal government and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Wildlife Department after the provincial authorities went ahead with issuing trophy hunting permits for wild goats despite a federal ban.
The federal government recently prohibited hunting non-exportable markhor, ibex, and grey goral, citing the lack of prior federal approval. In response, the chief conservator of Wildlife in KP asserted that the authority to set hunting quotas for these species falls under provincial jurisdiction.
This year, KP conducted auctions for 10 markhor, 31 ibex, and six grey goral, while successful bids were also received for nine non-exportable markhor, generating revenue of $553,000, with permits duly issued to the winning bidders.
In a letter to the KP Forest Secretary, the chief conservator noted that the federal CITES Management Authority’s ban contradicted its own approval from October 2024, when permission had been granted for hunting six non-exportable markhor in Kohistan and Chitral, a decision implemented by the provincial department.
The letter stressed that KP’s management of the non-exportable trophy hunting quota is fully legitimate and that contesting the provincial permits could undermine Pakistan’s credibility in wildlife conservation.
According to KP Wildlife officials, the current populations of these species stand at 6,222 markhor, 2,920 ibex, and 394 grey goral, while the number of animals offered for hunting remains well below sustainable limits, ensuring that trophy hunting continues to be conducted responsibly.