LAHORE: Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced that some hundred new animals (including Chinese panda) will be added to the Lahore Zoo, besides a modern fish aquarium and hologram, as part of a comprehensive upgrade plan for the city’s most popular recreational facility.

He said this while launching the upgrade and revamp project at the zoo here on Saturday.

Speaking to the media, on the occasion, Mr Naqvi said the zoo used to the most favourite place of children, regretting the facility had been ignored by the governments over the last two decades.

He deplored that as one entered the zoo, one encountered stench because of uncleanliness, adding that despite such bad conditions, children still loved to visit the place.

CM launches upgrade,revamp project; pledges international standards

The chief minister said that the upgrade plan, prepared in consultation with relevant ministers, secretaries and stakeholders, includes revamp of every aspect of the zoo.

Mr Naqvi said besides the zoo, Lahore Zoo Safari would also be upgraded and have four elephants. He regretted that Suzi, the last elephant the zoo had, mainly died because of being alone and ignored, adding that the four new elephants would be kept in the Zoo Safari.

He said the Lahore Zoo revamp and upgrade project would complete by the end of January, the CM said. He said it was a good news for the children that the zoo would have 100 new animals, including panda, which they might have never seen live before.

He said to bring panda, one of the rare animals, to the Lahore Zoo, the government was in constant contact with the Chinese authorities, adding that the prime minister himself had sent a request to Chinese government in this regard.

Mr Naqvi said the revamped zoo would also have international standard hologram, an elaborate food court and a modern fish aquarium. He said for the welfare and care of zoo animals, international consultants would be hired, adding that only those animals would be kept in the zoo which were internationally allowed in captivity.

He said Jallo and Changa Manga parks would also be upgraded.

He said Lahore Zoo was being upgraded on the pattern of Singapore Safari Zoo, with 100 percent e-ticketing system and other modern facilities. He said the government was taking on board all stakeholders, including the WWF to meet international standards for the upgrade project.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2023