LAHORE, Dec 4: World Wide Fund for Nature – Pakistan (WWF – Pakistan) — officials have called for the destruction of seized illegal leather jackets with fur trimmings in public, which were confiscated by Pakistan Custom officials earlier in September, says a press release.

This was reported on Sept 26 in national newspapers, says a press release issued by the World Wide Fund for Nature.

WWF officials have praised the pro-active stance of the Ministry of Climate Change and Customs authorities, particularly Dr Amna Naeem, for charge with fines the exporter involved in the trade and for confiscating the consignment.

According to Uzma Khan, WWF biodiversity director, the leather jackets had fox and jackal fur on them and they went against the Provincial Wildlife Laws and Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act 2012, which is a ratification of the Convention on the International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The call to destroy the seized jackets also follows these national and international rules.

The WWF stressed the need to take legal action against the people in the trade and urged the Ministry of Climate Change to in line with TRAFFIC International and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora take a legal against as per Pakistan Trade Control of Wild Fauna and Flora Act of 2012.

In a letter written to the Federal Board of Revenue, the WWF stressed the need for protecting officials of the Customs Department and Wildlife Departments who uphold and follow rules and guidelines to protect the biodiversity of Pakistan. WWF – Pakistan has not received any reply from the FBR.

WWF–Pakistan Director General Ali Hassan Habib added the WWF–Pakistan was fully committed to nature conservation and that the WWF is actively working with TRAFFIC International which monitors and controls the illegal trade of wild fauna and flora.