KARACHI, July 18: The city nazim, Naimatullah Khan, in view of increasing public interest in Safari Park, has given it the status of a family park. Now, only families will be allowed to visit the park on weekdays, while the general public can visit it on Sundays.

He said this while speaking at the inauguration of a waterfall at the park - the biggest waterfall of Karachi - which was completed by the CDGK in a short span of time, said a press release on Sunday.

Naimatullah thanked the former mayors and administrators of KMC for extending their support and cooperation in the development of Safari Park. He paid special tributes to former mayors Abdul Sattar Afghani, Dr Farooq Sattar and former administrator Fahim Zaman, who he said had worked a lot for the development of Safari Park during their tenures.

He appealed to the masses to extend their support and cooperation to make Safari Park an exemplary one, calling upon philanthropists to donate more animals to the park so that people could be provided with a better and healthy entertainment spot.

On the occasion, brother of former governor Sindh Jalauddin Haider announced a donation of five pairs of flamingos; known industrialist Shamim Ahmed announced donation of a pair of Macaw parrots and five pairs of red parrots; CEO, GoGo Pan Masala Muhammad Ashraf announced donation of two motorbikes for the park security staff; Tabinda Lari of Habib Oil mills announced five water coolers; while Nazim North Karachi Town Shafiqur Rehman announced a donation of an African Barbery Sheep for the park - no zoo of Pakistan has this sheep.

While, women councillors Nadima Tasneem and Rukshanda announced Rs1.5 million each from their special funds for the park. Muhammad Ashraf of GoGo Pan Masala also announced to construct a prayer place for women at the park for which Naimatullah issued immediate orders.

Nazim Karachi has appealed to secretary wildlife Sindh to arrange an ibex for the park. While, tenders have also been called by the CDGK for provision of more animals, and soon the park will have hippopotamus, kangaroo and an African Ox.

Coordinator Nazim Dr Fayyaz Alam informed that new animals were also being arranged for the Karachi City Zoo as well. Earlier, the city nazim said that import of elephants from Sri Lanka and animals from other countries was underway.

He also said that as many as 1,000 eucalyptus trees would soon be planted in the biggest Safari Park of Pakistan, adding that Rs17.50 million had been earmarked for the park in the 2004-05 budget.

Naimatullah said the CDGK was formulating a comprehensive plan to provide the citizens of Karachi with better and healthy entertainment. DDO Safari Park, on the occasion, said that three fountains would be inaugurated at the park next month. - PPI