SAHIWAL: A feasibility study has been tabled to transform the century old historic Dalwaryam Forest, popularly called Zakhera, over 1,575 acres in district Pakpattan into a Safari park.
The Dalwaryam Forest, located on the left bank of the Old River Beas, is a prepartition jungle established in 1930 by the British Colony Department alongside Piplee Pahar (Okara) and Jamlera Jungle (Vehari).
The proposal to turn it into a Safari was presented by PMLN parliamentarians during a meeting with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz last month. Dawn learnt that the CM had issued a directive on the proposal and early feasibility work had started by local divisional and district administration.
Commissioner Dr Asif Tufail and Deputy Commissioner Asif Raza visited the site recently to assess the situation. They got a briefing from Nafees Kalyar, deputy conservator forest, on the site over the proposed project. The team also tracked the jungle by foot.
Dalwaryam Forest hosts several indigenous trees, including Shisham, Kikar/Babul, Pipal, Bohar/Banyan, Ber, Phulahi and Talee.
There is a newer plantation covering 1,000 acres with 727,452 plants of Arjun, Toot, Shishim, Beri, Amaltas, Jaman and Frash, carried out under the CM Plant a Tree and Green Pakistan initiatives. The forest is irrigated by Noorpur Distributary Canal at RD-71 through seven watercourses.
Speaking to Dawn, Nafees Kalyar said, “Total 9.4 cusec irrigation water is provided to irrigate 1,575 acres land”.
The jungle is home to diverse wildlife, including partridges, wild boar, indigenous and migratory birds.
“By declaring this jungle a Safari Park, we can preserve its century old natural habitat,” said Chaudhry Javed, MPA from Pakpattan, emphasizing the need for conservation. The site is strategically connected by two main roads — PakpattanSahiwal Road via Noorpur and SahiwalArifwala Road via Kameer — making it accessible for visitors.
Mr Javed also proposed an orchard for fruit while developing the safari park.
“There is huge potential to develop this natural habitat into the Safari park,” Commissioner Dr Tufail told Dawn.
Sources confirmed that the district administration and commissioner’s office are currently preparing a feasibility report, after which funding allocations would be decided.
Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2026
