ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan Friday said Pakistan is committed to zero tolerance on illegal killing, taking and trade of wild birds. In his message on the World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD), an annual awareness raising campaign highlighting the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats, the minister said that every year people around the world take action and organize public events such as bird festivals, educational programmes, exhibitions and bird-watching excursions to celebrate WMBD. All these activities can be undertaken at any time of the year because that countries or regions observing the peak of migrations at different times, but the main days for the international celebrations on the second Saturday in May and in October. The minister stressed that migratory birds don’t have an easy life. “They have to run the gauntlet of illegal hunting/killing, wind turbines, pollution and panoply of other threats. Pakistan is committed to tackle the threats faced by migratory birds. Pakistan is located on a cross road of bird migrations which is called Central Asian Flyway (CAF), connecting Central Asia to the Indian Ocean. CAF mainly falls in Indus Plains in Pakistan and is followed by a number of wintering birds during their migration from Central Asia to subcontinent,” the minister said. He highlighted that Pakistan has five diverse and representative eco-regions included in Global 200 eco-regions, identified by WWF. “Pakistan with its unique geographical location and climatic conditions has a varied and interesting mix of flora and fauna. About 668 bird species are reported in Pakistan which include both resident and migratory species. All important migratory birds species are protected under respective provincial wildlife legislations and its hunting, killing and capturing is completely banned. Any violation is punishable with imprisonment or a fine or with both,” he added. Published in Daily Times, May 12th 2018.