PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has generated $1.9 million in revenues from its 2025-26 Trophy Hunting Programme, provincial officials reported on Tuesday, with most of the money to be shared with local populations.
The trophy hunting program assists authorities in ending poaching and conserving rare animals besides providing livelihood opportunities for local populations by facilitating eco-tourism in the province.
The income comprises $946,000 for four exportable markhor permits, $553,300 for nine non-exportable markhor permits, $16,042 for 20 non-exportable ibex permits and $398,500 mobilized through six non-exportable grey goral permits.
Markhor, a twisted-horned wild goat, is Pakistan’s national animal and inhabits the country’s northern mountains. The trophy hunting season, which generally starts in Nov and lasts until Apr, consists of multiple hunts.
“The trophy hunting program has become an ideal case of KP’s sustainable wildlife conservation,” a statement by the provincial wildlife department said.
“A significant percentage of the earnings is shared with local communities residing around wildlife habitats so that they get direct benefits from the program.”
Though trophy hunting has been considered controversial globally as it includes hunting of rare species, KP authorities maintain they have developed excellent incentives for conservation of species such as the markhor by distributing an excellent portion of revenues to locals.
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In 2024, Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan government department of parks and wildlife auctioned permits for trophy hunting more than 100 endangered species and the Astore Markhor goat’s permit received the most expensive bid at $107,000.
