PESHAWAR, April 2: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to establish an international standard zoo over a fifty acres area in Regi Lalma Town Peshawar very soon to heed the call of school students that had collected signatures to lobby Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti. The approval was given by chief minister while presiding over a meeting on Saturday. He approved the recommendations of committee constituted for identifying suitable location for the proposed zoo at his office.

A group of students from Beaconhouse School System, Khyber Campus, Hayatabad, Peshawar had collected signatures to petition the chief minister to announce the construction of a zoo in Peshawar.

The student Asad, who spoke on behalf of the students, had conveyed to the chief minister the wishes of 1.7 million children of Peshawar to construct a zoo.

The chief minister had informed the students that the government had already earmarked Rs50 million for the project but it was not able to find a suitable place for the zoo.

The environment department had initially identified Jalozai Camp for the project but the chief minister turned down the proposal on the ground that it would take years to vacate the land from the Afghan refugees and directed the department concerned to identify alternative place.

It goes to the credit of Peshawar Development Authority Director General Qazi Laiq to provide 50 acres of land in Regi Model Town to make it accessible for Peshawarites and other places.

Those attended the Saturday meeting included Environment Secretary Zahoor Khalil, Peshawar Commissioner Akbar Khan, PDA Director General Qazi Laiq, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Tariq Jamil and Chief Conservator Wild Life Saeeduz Zaman.

Mr Hoti directed environment secretary, Peshawar commissioner and PDA DG for submission of joint summary regarding terms and conditions and finalisation of all other requirements for inclusion of this mega project, for provision of entertainment facilities to children and citizen of Peshawar, in next annual developmental programme.

A statement issued here said that the chief minister had formed a committee last month under provincial secretary environment during a meeting with a group of children from Beaconhouse School System. Other members of the committee include Peshawar commissioner and PDA DG. It was stated that the 50 acre land would be acquired from the golf course.

The committee presented report regarding identification of location for the zoo while the chief minister agreed to the proposal and formally approved it. Mr Hoti said that need of zoo in provincial capital was direly felt and current situation demand more and more entertainment opportunities to people particularly children.

The provincial government, he said, was committed for provision of leisure opportunities to people along with restoration of peace in the province, promotion of education and provision of basic life needs.

He said that the proposed international standard zoo would protect birds and animals, entertainment facilities to the people as well as opportunities of environment education.

Meanwhile, the chief minister handed over keys of buses to principals of Cadet College Warsak and Government Degree College Thana, Malakand Agency, for provision of transport facilities to the students during a gathering here on Saturday.

Higher Education Secretary Farah Hamid, Elementary and Secondary Education Secretary Mohammad Arifin, Frontier Core Foundation Managing Director Brigadier Ajmal Khan, Cadet College Warsak Principal Col. Mehmoodul Hasan Awan and Government Degree College Thana Principal Mohammad Zahir Shah and other officers were also present on the occasion.

The principals of the colleges thanked the chief minister for donation of buses and assured him that their institutes would play their role in promotion of higher and quality education.