Hunting for sport is also an activity which has a long history in Pakistan, particularly among the country’s wealthy and elite. Historically, hunting was a pastime of the upper classes and was often seen as a symbol of status and wealth. However, hunting for sport was also an important means of population control for certain wild animals in certain regions of the country.
In the past, hunting in Pakistan was largely unregulated and unrestricted, which led to the overhunting and endangerment of many species. The Government of Pakistan has recently introduced a variety of laws and regulations to address this issue, however, we still have a long way to go.
There are several hunting seasons in Pakistan, usually specific to various species, and with hunting quotas, and permissions granted in designated hunting areas with a license issued by the relevant authorities, chaperoned by a certified guide.
In Pakistan, several species of animals are hunted for sport, but the most commonly hunted species include:
- The Blue sheep or Bharal (Pseudois nayaur) is a species of wild goat that is found in the Himalayan region of Pakistan, and is often hunted for its meat and trophy horns.
- The Himalayan ibex (Capra ibex sibirica) is a wild goat found in the Himalayan region of Pakistan and is commonly hunted for its meat and trophy horns.
- The Markhor (Capra falconeri) is a large wild goat found in the mountainous regions of Pakistan. It is highly valued for its spiral horns and is also the national animal of Pakistan.
- The Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) is a species of antelope found in the southern regions of Pakistan and is commonly hunted for its meat and trophy horns.
- The Urial (Ovis vignei) is a wild sheep found in the northern regions of Pakistan and is commonly hunted for its meat and trophy horns.
These species are commonly hunted in Pakistan because they are found in large numbers in certain regions of the country and are seen as a valuable source of food and trophy. They are also relatively easy to hunt compared to other, more rare species.
In terms of foreign hunters, they are most interested in hunting big game species such as the Markhor and the Ibex, which are highly prized for trophy horns. Other animals including big cats, and snow leopards in particular, are highly restricted, with very limited hunting quotas. Hunting these also require special permits and licenses, which are only awarded for specific purposes, conservation, scientific research or other exceptional circumstances.
Blockchain technology can be used to create a tamper-proof, decentralized system for issuing, tracking, and verifying hunting licenses. By using smart contracts, a blockchain-based system could ensure that only authorized individuals are able to obtain hunting licenses and that the licenses can be easily tracked and verified to ensure that hunting is taking place in accordance with legal regulations.
A digital hunting license can be issued as an NFT with all necessary information like the hunter’s name, the species of animal being hunted, the hunting location and the hunting season. This information, stored on a blockchain, allowing it to be easily tracked and verified.
By using blockchain, it could also be possible to create a decentralized system for reporting hunting activities, which would allow for greater transparency and accountability. For instance, a hunter would have to register the hunting activity (species, location, date, etc) on the blockchain, with that data being immutable and transparent, and available for verification by the relevant authorities.
Additionally, blockchain could also help with tracking hunting trophies and certificates, which could help to ensure that the hunting is done within the laws and regulations, and to prevent the illegal trade of animal parts and also to help in protecting endangered species.
Whilst the challenges of adoption remain, including technological complexity, scalability, and regulation, or the absence thereof, there are several companies which specialize in developing blockchain-based ticketing systems, which can be adopted for licensing, while others may have expertise in areas such as smart contract development or blockchain infrastructure. Aventus, Blocksale, and Triip Protocol are a handful of renowned names which Pakistan can look towards to aid the federal and provincial governments with customised, off-the-shelf solutions.
