RAWALPINDI: The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) had sought the divisional commissioner’s assistance to get possession of the Wild Life Safari Park in Lohi Bher to improve its condition.

PHA Director General Saif Anwar Jappa told Dawn that the authority wants to develop the park on the model of Jallo Park in Lahore and make it a tourist attraction.

He said the divisional commissioner has been contacted in this regard, who has sent the Punjab wildlife secretary a request to give the authority seven acres of land where it would make a botanical park.

Mr Jappa said the park is in deplorable condition and funds need to be spent on improving it, adding that the wildlife department has no funds to do so.

“We have not sought the entire park’s land but we will improve seven acres of the park and connect the animal area with the main park with a train or shuttle service so people can visit the area. We will also protect the fauna and flora of the Potohar region in this park,” he said.

The Korang River and some mountains are also on the park’s land, he said. The area will be developed with plants and flowers to attract visitors.

He said there are many plans for how to improve the park’s state, and the PHA has many horticulturists for the job.

The Wild Life Safari Park Lohi Bher is spread over 687 acres between Rawalpindi and Islamabad on the Islamabad Expressway. It was established in 1992, but ensuing years of apathy on the part of the Punjab government have left it the picture of neglect.

The only attraction in the park is one lion and three lionesses, and even the road to the lion’s den is dilapidated.

A lion safari was developed in 1992, where visitors could travel in their vehicles to see the wild animals roaming around, but the safari was closed a few years ago due to the poor state of the road and the collapse of a bridge on the link road to the park. The lions are now caged and visitors have to travel down a broken road to see them.

An artificial lake in the old safari is still under construction, and many aviaries were found empty. The park’s gardens have not been properly maintained and there are barely any proper seating areas.

Mr Jappa said the PHA has also submitted plans to the provincial government to improve greenbelts and parks in the city.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2018