BAHAWALPUR: The Punjab government is establishing an ecotourism facility according to international standards at the Lal Sohanra National Park at a cost of Rs2bn, according to Bahawalpur Commissioner Musarrat Jabeen.

After inspecting the ongoing development work at the project during her visit to the park on Thursday, she told Dawn the project’s major works included construction of 17 security check-posts and watch towers with five wireless control rooms, 50 boundary pillars, lining of lake in children park, picnic sheds, bridge over lake, chain link fencing and katcha roads within park with eight steel gates and a DFO office.

She said the released funds of Rs500m were being utilised while the remaining funds were expected to be approved in the next year’s financial budget. She said ongoing work would be completed within a year by July 2026 and hoped that the new eco-facility at the park would promote tourism.

Ms Jabeen added that special attention was also being paid to the breeding of wildlife, especially blackbucks and Chinkara deer, along with the increase of the forest area in the park. She mentioned that Lal Sohanra National Park was unique in the world as it was rare that three main requirements of forest, water and desert were available in it.

She said the officials had been directed to ensure that there should be no theft of woods from the forest and the wildlife from the enclosures of blackbucks and Chinkara.

Published in Dawn, May 16th, 2025