PESHAWAR, Feb 17: The NWFP government has decided to set up a wildlife park between Batkhela and Thana in Malakand Agency along the River Swat. A handout issued on Friday said that Batkhela Tehsil Nazim Shahab Hussain called on NWFP Environment Secretary Noorul Haq at his office here on Friday and discussed various aspects of the project.

It was decided that the land required for the park would be arranged by the local tehsil municipal administration while the forest and wildlife departments would make necessary constructions and provide wildlife species for the park.

The secretary said that the provincial government, especially the environment minister, was taking keen interest in establishing wildlife parks throughout the province. He said it would help in preserving the wealth of forests, discourage the illicit cutting down of trees and promote tourism in the region.

He said that work had been started for establishing a park in the evergreen forests of Kalam.—APP