KARACHI, Aug 7: Preparation of the management plan for the Khirthar National Park, one of the largest national parks in the country, and the adjoining protected areas has started, it is learnt.

According to sources, the plan covers Khirthar National Park (3,087 square kms), Mahal Kohistan Wildlife Sanctuary (705 square kms), Hub Dam Wildlife Sanctuary (272 square kms) and the Surjan, Sumbak Eri and Hothiano game reserve (282 square kms).

The sources said that the year-long process was being funded by Premier-Kuffpec Pakistan (PKP), an oil company which has been allowed by the Sindh Wildlife Department to carry out its oil and gas exploration activities in the protected areas.

The firm has appointed Hagler Bailly as consultants, which is chalking out the plan in association with a South African firm, Van Reit Louw Landscape Architects. A team of foreign experts, comprising Johan Louw, Ralf Kalwa and Martini Brown of the consultants’ firm, visited the park. They held meetings with the high officials and wildlife experts in the city to seek first-hand information and discuss the issues.

The Sindh wildlife experts, Hussain Bakhsh Bhagat and Abdul Munaf Qaimkhani, have been deputed by the department to assist the consultants in preparing the plan, which will cost about Rs6.5 million to the oil company.

The oil company had earlier funded over US$1 million baseline study of the park which was carried out by an Australian University team. The company is funding the scientific studies in the park as per the terms and conditions laid down for the firm to continue with the oil and gas exploration activities in the protected areas.

The protected area is significant for its sizable indigenous settlements, rugged terrain, valuable flora and mineral resources and a number of rare wildlife species like Sindh ibex, urial, chinkara, houbara bustards (migratory), grey partridge, saker falcon, etc.

More that 400 species of plants, 36 species of mammals, 203 species of birds, 34 species of reptiles and two species of amphibians in the park have been documented. The archaeologically significant sites located in the area include the tombs at Taung, remains of Kohtrash, fort of Rani Kot and the fossils and petrified forests of the Khirthar range.

The sources said that Hagler Bailly has a long association with the oil company and a few years back it was awarded a contract by the oil company to carry out the environment impact assessment and baseline study pertaining to the park.