RAWALPINDI: The Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries department on Friday decided to fence Loi Bher Wildlife Park to protect it from encroachers. Originally, the park was set up on 1,000 acres which has now been reduced to 450 acres.
For fencing, the department will take guidance from a map prepared by Survey of Pakistan to identify park area.
The decision to fence the park was taken at a meeting chaired by Punjab Secretary Forest, Wildlife and Fisheries retired Captain Mohammad Mahmood after visiting Loi Bher and Bansra Gali wildlife parks and fish hatcheries.
Wildlife and Parks Director General Sohail Ashraf and other officers concerned were also present on the occasion.
In the meeting, the provincial secretary directed the officers concerned to ensure removal of encroachments from Loi Bher park land, adding the department should approach the Supreme Court through advocate general.
He emphasised the need for restoring Chak plantation schemes, establishing largescale plant nurseries and accelerating the process of tree plantation.
He directed the fisheries officials that a comparative report regarding production of fish hatcheries and expenditures be presented to him. He told them to prepare terms of reference for outsourcing fisheries nursery units and hatcheries.
He expressed displeasure over lack of cleanliness and quality care arrangements for visitors to the parks.
He directed the department to construct ponds aimed at preserving rainwater which will not only help in catering to the water needs of the animals but the parks as well.
He said steps should be taken to provide quality recreational facilities to public at Loi Bher and Bansara Galli wildlife parks.
He also stressed the need for repairing cages and enclosures in the parks. He ordered the wildlife department that deer enclosure be restored and trees be planted on the park’s vacant land before next spring.
The secretary blamed the wildlife staff for poor civil works and cleanliness conditions at Bansara Gali Wildlife Park and directed the DG wildlife to prepare TORs and legal framework for outsourcing the wildlife parks and create regulations that how it could be operated under the public-private partnership.
The provincial secretary, after taking a briefing, visited Rawalpindi Fisheries Hatchery and directed the officials there to prepare a plan for the completion of a quarantine lab, eradication of eucalyptus trees and plantation of other species of trees.
He directed the fisheries officials to frame a comprehensive policy aimed at handing over the seed production section to the private sector within 15 days. He also ordered elimination of stalls and encroachments from the premises of Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab in Patriata and remove the junk from the site.
Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2019
