PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Friday approved funds and site for the establishment of Peshawar zoo.

The approval came from Chief Minister Pervez Khattak after stakeholders reached an agreement, said a handout issued here.

According to the handout, Rs100 million has already been allocated in the annual development plan for the project.

The chief minister ordered release of Rs50 million immediately after the allotment of land for zoo.

The zoo will be established on 29 acres land of Pakistan Forest Institute’s Range Management Research Garden adjacent to the University of Peshawar. It will be bigger than that of Lahore, which is spread over 25 acres of land area.

The officials said the wildlife department was tasked with getting variety of wildlife species from all over the world for the zoo.

They said the wildlife chief conservator and PFI director general had signed an agreement under which besides best and attractive arrangements for visitors and tourists in the zoo, access opportunities will also be provided to the teachers and students of wildlife for research.

Also in the day, a delegation of PTI office-bearers from Swat led by housing minister Dr Amjad Khan called on the chief minister at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat here.

PTI lawmakers, divisional and district presidents and cabinet members also attended the meeting during which visitors apprised the chief minister of the problems and issues faced by people of their area.

The chief minister said work on the start of Rescue 1122 and public company WSSP in Swat on the pattern of Peshawar was on the cards, while two separate schemes of development and beautification each valuing Rs100 million in Swat were also in the pipeline.

He also said the construction of a flyover in Kanju and other development schemes had also been planned to check traffic jam in Mingora city.

Khattak said all squares of Swat would be expanded and beautified with green belts and flower corners, while the rusted water pipes in the city would be replaced to provide clean drinking water to the people.

He said others schemes for welfare of youths, educational scholarships and loans for jobs and construction of a stadium and community hall had also been undertaken, while instructions had been issued for the launch of irrigation and agricultural schemes.

The chief minister praised the people of Swat for understanding the PTI slogan of change and asked local MNAs and MPAs to work for public welfare.

Published in Dawn, November 1st , 2014