BAHAWALPUR, Feb 26: Arrangements are afoot to convert the Lal Sohanra National Park into a wildlife safari park of international standard by the Punjab government.

A decision to this effect was taken during a meeting presided over by the chief minister in Lahore last month. The chief minister has reportedly assured provision of ample funds for the project.

It is learnt that a one-week workshop will be held at the PTDC motel at the national park from March 10. The workshop is likely to be attended by a number of foreign experts and government officials. The plan to make the park a safari park will be prepared on the recommendations of the experts after attending the workshop.

Lal Sohanra is spread over 153,000 acres and a unique park in the world in the sense that it has three factors - desert, forest and water. The park has always been a source of attraction for the foreign tourists, visitors and even the former and present rulers.

The most significant feature of the park is the enclosure of black bucks.

Meanwhile, the Punjab wildlife department has shifted 36 black bucks from the park to Cholistan’s Toba Tokenwala in Rahim Yar Khan district.

The shifting was made by the department under its rehabilitation programme meant to increase the breeding of the black bucks.

Earlier, it may be recalled that in 2004, 288 chinkara and in 2005, 10 black bucks were shifted to Toba Tokenwala for breeding purpose.