Islamabad Wildlife Management Board

Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) is a Pakistani government body operating under the Ministry of Climate Change. It is mandated to protect, manage, and conserve the Margalla Hills National Park as its legal custodian.

It was set up in 2015 under Section 4 of the Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Ordinance 1979. It was officially notified on 7 July 2015 by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Rina Saeed Khan is the current chairperson of the board,  having been appointed in 2021.

History
The Federal Government of Pakistan issued the Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) Ordinance 1979 to protect the environment and wildlife in the Islamabad Capital Territory. The ordinance provided for the establishment of the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) in 1980, covering the Margalla Hills, Rawal Lake, and Shakarparian. Moreover, a Wildlife Management Board headed

by the Chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA) and composed of CDA as well as federal government officials was also notified under this ordinance. This Board, however, was dysfunctional, while the National Park was being managed by the Environment Wing of CDA without oversight.

On 30 September 2014, Z B Mirza, a zoologist and field expert, filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court, calling to attention the poor condition of the MHNP. A meeting attended by Mirza, the Cabinet Division, and CDA officials led to a discussion of the Board, and the resulting recommendations were sent to the federal government. As a result, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) was notified on 7 July 2015. Dr. Anis-ur-Rehman was appointed the Chairman via a Cabinet Division notification on 10 August 2015.