KP lifts quail hunting ban, allows green mining

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has lifted its ban on quail hunting, setting a daily limit of eight quails for each licensed hunter across the province. The move was announced by the Wildlife Department on Friday alongside a separate order allowing green mining operations to resume without explosives.

The Chief Conservator of Wildlife issued the hunting permission under official order number 58, which amends an earlier order dated August 31. Under the revised rules, hunters may take both common quail and rain quail, but only in designated areas and within prescribed limits, according to a communique from the department. The order states that hunting remains restricted to licensed individuals, and wildlife staff have been directed to ensure strict enforcement of the rules. The department has not specified how many licences are currently valid or when the designated hunting areas will be notified.

In a separate notification, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department declared green mining projects to be of national interest. The notification says green mines may now operate without explosives, and it permits surface mining and related activities at green mines. District administrations and law enforcement agencies have been directed to take necessary steps to facilitate the revival of green mining operations in all districts of the province. According to the notification, the decision was taken in light of a clearance letter issued on September 10.

Neither the Wildlife Department nor the Home Department has published a timeline for implementation beyond the orders. The green mining notification does not name specific mines or districts where work would restart first, and the hunting communique does not list the designated areas or season dates. Quail hunting is a traditional seasonal activity in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while green mining has been promoted by the provincial government as a way to restart small-scale mineral extraction without the use of explosives.