PESHAWAR, April 6: The provincial government was considering a proposal about converting of Kund Park into a Wildlife safari park to serve as a centre for conservation, education and nucleus for propagation of endangered species.

The proposal for setting up of the safari park was presented by the Wildlife department for its active consideration.

An official of the Wildlife department informed that a meeting to this effect by the concerned officials will be held with senior minister, Siraj-ul-Haq, who also holds the portfolio of environment, on April 8.

Kund Park is situated on the confluence of river Indus and river Kabul over an area of 176 acres and the wildlife department has displayed a number of species in the park including common leopard, spotted deer, hog deer, black buck, golden pheasant, silver pheasant, ring-necked pheasant, kalij pheasant, cheer pheasant, blue peacock, white peacock, cranes, partridges, bar- headed geese and ruddy shelduck.

A bear centre has also been established in the park with the assistance of the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

The centre is the only facility in Pakistan for the confiscated bears and is serving as deterrent to the poaching and trapping of wild bears.

The official informed that the proposal was earlier submitted to the governor of NWFP for transferring the management of the park to the Wildlife department from the Sarhad Tourism Corporation.—APP