PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has raised more than $1.21 million through the auction of four exportable markhor trophy-hunting permits, with officials describing the result as a record for the province.
The permits, linked to community conservation areas in Chitral and Kohistan, were auctioned under the supervision of Dr Mohsin Farooqi, the province’s chief conservator of wildlife. The four bids totalled $1,211,800, equivalent to approximately Rs335.7 million, according to the figures provided by officials.
The highest bid was for the Toshi Two permit in Chitral, which sold for $335,600—about Rs92.97 million. The Toshi One permit, also in Chitral, fetched $320,600, or roughly Rs88.8 million.
The other two permits were auctioned for $295,600 for Kaigah Khwar and $260,000 for Gahirat Gol. These bids were reported as approximately Rs81.8 million and Rs72 million, respectively.
The Toshi Two bid also exceeded last year’s highest markhor permit price, which was $272,000, or about Rs75.35 million. The latest result represents an increase of $63,600 over that previous high.
Under the revenue-sharing arrangement, 80 per cent of the proceeds will go towards local community welfare and wildlife conservation, while the remaining 20 per cent will be deposited in the provincial government’s treasury. The programme links trophy-hunting permits with funding for communities and conservation in the areas where the markhor is found.
