PESHAWAR — The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has raised more than Rs335.6 million from the auction of four exportable markhor trophy hunting permits, setting a new revenue record for the provincial programme.
The permits, allocated to Village Conservation Committees in Chitral and Kohistan, generated a combined $1,211,800. The auction was held under the supervision of Chief Conservator of Wildlife Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Dr Mohsin Farooqi.
Chitral’s Toshi Two Tops the Bidding
The Toshi Two permit in Chitral secured the highest bid at $335,600, equivalent to approximately Rs92.965 million. The amount exceeded last year’s highest bid of $272,000, which was worth around Rs75.347 million.
The Toshi One permit fetched $320,600, equivalent to approximately Rs88.8 million, while Gahiret Gol was sold for $260,000, bringing in around Rs72 million.
The Kaigah Khowar permit attracted a bid of $295,600, equivalent to approximately Rs81.8 million.
Community Share Dominates Revenue Split
Under the revenue-sharing arrangement, 80 per cent of the proceeds will be used for local community welfare and wildlife conservation, while the remaining 20 per cent will be deposited into the provincial government’s treasury.
- Toshi Two (Chitral): $335,600 — approx. Rs92.965 million
- Toshi One (Chitral): $320,600 — approx. Rs88.8 million
- Kaigah Khowar (Kohistan): $295,600 — approx. Rs81.8 million
- Gahiret Gol (Kohistan): $260,000 — approx. Rs72 million
The programme channels the bulk of its earnings back into the communities that host the markhor, linking conservation incentives with local development across the province’s mountainous districts.
