RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department has set a three-week deadline for the revival of the lion safari in Loi Bher Wildlife Park and asked the department concerned to open the facility for the visitors within the stipulated time.

The directions were issued by the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Director General Suhail Ashraf during a meeting held to review work on the revival of the lion safari and the wildlife park in Loi Bher.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Director Rawalpindi region Nadeem Qureshi, Faisalabad region Anwar Maan, Director Zoo Lahore Hasan Sukhaira and senior officials.

Other parts of Loi Bher Wildlife Park will be refurbished next month, meeting told

“To develop the wildlife park, the provincial government has completed planning and work will be started within a day or two. Initially, the lion safari will be developed and other areas of the park will be refurbished in the second phase next month,” the director general said.

He said the objective of the project was to provide better recreational facilities to the residents of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. He said the park was located in an ideal place for the visitors of the two cities.

“Under the plan, the road from Islamabad Expressway to the park and cages in the Lion Safari will be reconstructed. The animals will be provided a natural environment,” he said.

The official said ponds and water streams in the facility would be cleaned and saplings would be planted to give the park a greener look. He said the government wanted to improve the condition of the park as soon as possible and all available resources would be utilised for it.

The Loi Bher Wildlife Park spreads over 687 acres and was established in 1992.

Though it is located at an ideal place, the park remained neglected in the past and lost attraction of the residents.

There are a few cages for animals such as deer, bear, monkey and birds. The ion safari is no longer worth visiting.

The rundown road and improper arrangements around the lion’s den forced people to avoid visiting it.

At present, the park is divided into two portions. To reach the main portion, one can use a broken road from Islamabad Expressway.

The other portion is accessible from Pakistan Town and Korang Town side. A bridge which connected the two portions was broken five years ago and is yet to be reconstructed.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2019