Pakistan observed World Migratory Bird Day on Saturday amid growing concerns among environmental experts, international organisations and wildlife authorities over the rapid decline in migratory bird populations due to shrinking wetlands, climate change, pollution and illegal hunting.
Experts have warned that Punjab, once regarded as a major winter refuge for millions of migratory birds, is increasingly becoming vulnerable because of water scarcity, smog, habitat destruction and unchecked urban expansion.
Dr Zulfiqar Ali, head of the Department of Zoology at University of the Punjab, said Pakistan lies on Flyway Number Four, also known as the Green Route, one of the world’s seven major migratory bird routes. He said millions of birds enter Pakistan annually through Khunjerab, Peshawar, Quetta and routes along the Iranian border.
According to him, Pakistan has around 225 wetlands, including 19 internationally recognised Ramsar sites. Punjab’s major Ramsar sites include Head Marala, Taunsa Barrage Wildlife Sanctuary, Uchhali Wetland Complex and the Salt Range Wetlands.
These wetlands consist of lakes, marshes, riverbanks and reservoirs that provide seasonal habitats for migratory birds arriving from Siberia, Central Asia and other regions during winter.
Taunsa Barrage Wildlife Sanctuary is considered one of Pakistan’s most ecologically important wetlands, supporting large populations of ducks, cranes, flamingos and other waterfowl.
The sanctuary also plays a key role in preserving the Indus River ecosystem, aquatic vegetation and the endangered Indus dolphin.
Dr Zulfiqar Ali said recent research conducted near Head Marala recorded nearly a 70 per cent decline in migratory bird populations due to reduced water flow in the Chenab River, which has caused natural lakes and marshes to shrink. He added that smog, air pollution and illegal hunting were further threatening bird populations.
Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan, said Pakistan lay along a globally important migratory route, but wetland degradation, pollution, illegal trade and excessive hunting were putting many bird species at risk.
He said migratory birds played a critical role in maintaining ecological balance, biodiversity and agricultural systems by helping in seed dispersal, pest control and the stability of natural ecosystems.
The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department said several initiatives were underway to protect and restore Ramsar sites and wetland ecosystems across the province.
A spokesperson for the department said special programmes were being implemented for wetland conservation, prevention of illegal hunting, monitoring of migratory birds, habitat restoration and public awareness among local communities.
Under the Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020, the provincial government had granted legal protection to several ecologically sensitive regions, while new national parks and protected forests had also been established to conserve wildlife habitats and wetlands, the spokesperson added.
According to the department, anti-poaching operations, patrolling and hunting restrictions were being enforced at Head Marala, Taunsa Barrage and other water bodies. Authorities were also carrying out afforestation campaigns, restoration of natural waterways, wildlife censuses and environmental monitoring activities.
Meanwhile, the 2026 interim report of the Convention on Migratory Species and the United Nations Environment Programme stated that nearly 49 per cent of migratory species populations worldwide continued to decline, while 24 per cent faced the risk of extinction.
The report identified habitat destruction, pollution, climate change and unsustainable hunting as the biggest threats to migratory species globally.
According to the Global Wetland Outlook released by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, nearly 22 per cent of the world’s wetlands had disappeared since 1970, while a significant portion of the remaining wetlands were facing ecological degradation.
Environmental experts said Punjab’s worsening smog, industrial waste, reduced river flows, unplanned urbanisation and excessive use of agricultural chemicals were posing serious risks not only to migratory birds but also to local wildlife.
Dr Zulfiqar Ali said climate change was also disrupting the breeding cycles of native bird species, while rising temperatures, droughts and irregular rainfall patterns were destabilising natural ecosystems.
Environmentalists urged the government to take immediate and coordinated measures for wetland conservation, restoration of ecological river flows, strict enforcement against illegal hunting, expansion of forest cover and reduction of pollution to help restore Pakistan, particularly Punjab, as a safe habitat for migratory birds.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneAsif MehmoodRead More