LAHORE – The Punjab government has introduced the “Punjab Wildlife Hazard Control Rules 2025” along with major amendments to existing wildlife laws to strengthen environmental protection and ensure public safety. These new regulations aim to modernize biodiversity management, prevent human-wildlife conflicts, and impose tougher penalties on those involved in illegal hunting, trade, or animal cruelty across the province.
Under the new framework, officials can take scientific and immediate action if any wild animal poses a threat to human life or other species. The Chief Wildlife Ranger will base decisions on field reports, expert consultation, and public complaints. In urgent cases, the Punjab Rangers will be authorized to capture, relocate, or, if necessary, remove dangerous animals under expert supervision. The rules emphasize humane methods and scientific evidence in all actions.
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To further enhance safety, the rules propose classifying certain species as harmful or pest animals while designating “Wildlife Hazard Zones” in sensitive areas. In these zones, feeding or keeping wild animals will be strictly prohibited. The Punjab Captive Wildlife Management Committee and veterinary experts will oversee these operations to ensure all measures align with global conservation standards. Additionally, limited hunting permits may be issued under close monitoring in areas deemed ecologically sustainable.
The amended Wildlife Protection Act has introduced much heavier fines for violations. The penalty for illegal hunting of rare birds such as falcons, hawks, and owls now stands at Rs100,000 per animal, while for protected mammals, the fine is Rs100,000. Similarly, the penalty for species like jackals, boars, and wild pigs has been fixed at Rs25,000. The new rules also increase fines for weapons used in hunting — up to Rs100,000 for rifles and Rs500,000 for vehicles used during illegal hunts.
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Furthermore, the government has abolished honorary game warden posts and empowered members of community-based conservancies with legal authority to prevent illegal hunting and wildlife trade. A digital platform will be launched for auctioning hunting and breeding permits to ensure transparency. The new law also bans the use of live rabbits in dog racing, allowing only mechanical bait. To ensure strict enforcement, Wildlife Protection Centres will be established across Punjab, equipped with modern tools and authorized officers who can conduct searches and arrests without warrants.
With these sweeping changes, the Punjab government aims to curb wildlife exploitation and strengthen conservation practices across the province. Officials believe that the new system will not only deter offenders but also create a more scientific, humane, and transparent framework for wildlife protection in Pakistan’s largest province.