KARACHI, May 13: Sindh Minister for Wildlife Dr Daya Ram Essarani has ordered proper maintenance of 33 wildlife sanctuaries, 13 game reserves and the Khirthar National Park to protect wildlife in these areas.

He was speaking at a meeting after a departmental briefing at his office on Tuesday. He said that all-out efforts would be made to preserve and protect scenery, fauna and flora in the Khirthar National Park, spread over 1,192 square miles.

The minister also ordered the relevant officials to ensure that experts like anthropologists, archaeologists, geologists, botanists and zoologists were provided with proper guidance during their visits to this park.

While reviewing the development of the Khirthar Protected Area Complex (KPAC), the minister directed that work on this Rs499.9 million project should be started soon. He directed conservators, deputy conservators, game wardens, game officers, game inspectors and game watchers to ensure protection and preservation of the protected species, fauna and flora in the Khirthar National Park, sanctuaries and game reserves as it was their prime responsibility.

Dr Essarani appreciated the launch of the department’s website and asked the officials to update the site on a regular basis. The feedback section of the website should be made more effective as it was essential to obtain views from the people visiting the website for further improvement of the department, he added.

He warned that no slackness would be tolerated in the department and those involved in any sort of corruption would not be spared. The minister said that he would conduct surprise visits to the wildlife sanctuaries, game reserves and the Khirthar National Park to personally monitor the performance of the relevant officials.—PPI