HYDERABAD, September 14, 2026: The Sindh administration has imposed a 90-day ban on the installation and use of nets to trap migratory and native birds in Thatta, Sujawal and Badin districts.
Under a notification issued by the Hyderabad Division administration under Section 144, the use of nets to catch quails, migratory birds and native birds has been prohibited from September 13 to December 11.
Officials said the action was taken after wildlife authorities reported increased illegal bird trapping around wetlands and natural habitats as migratory birds begin arriving in the region ahead of the 2026-27 hunting season.
Sindh Wildlife Department Chief Javed Ahmed Mahar said relevant departments had been taken on board to control illegal trapping and hunting in the area.
He said the Thatta, Badin and Sujawal region is the last stop of the Indus Flyway for many migratory birds and is among the areas most affected by illegal hunting.
According to Mahar, illegal trapping and trade through nets has become a large-scale activity in the region, with thousands of birds reportedly caught and sold every year. He also said some hunters use fake permits and forged licences to avoid detection at checkpoints.
The notification allows police to register cases against violators under Section 188 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The wildlife department has also asked residents to report suspected illegal hunting camps, assuring them that the identity of informants will be kept confidential.
Mahar said fake licences for catching and trading falcons, ducks and quails are illegal and violate national wildlife laws as well as Pakistan’s international conservation commitments.
The ban is aimed at protecting migratory birds and native wildlife during an important period of the year when the lower Indus Delta serves as a key habitat and stopover for birds travelling along the Indus Flyway.
