Affordable entertainment: Most visitors resent hike in zoo ticket prices

Administration says the raise was needed to meet growing expenses

LAHORE: Most of the zoo visitors The Express Tribune spoke to this week have called the raise in price of admission tickets unwarranted.

The price of a ticket for adults has been raised to Rs40 from Rs15. All visitors above 10 years of age are required to buy an adult ticket. The price of a ticket for a child has been hiked to Rs20 from Rs5. Entry for the disabled, the elderly and children below the age of three remains free.

“They have suddenly raised the prices,” said Sadia Rafique who was visiting the zoo with her children. Rafique said she felt that the raise was unfair. The prices should be fixed keeping in view the visitors’ socio-economic background, she said. “When I was a child a ticket would cost Rs2,” she recalled.

“Earlier, an adult ticket used to cost less than what a ticket for a child costs now,” said Hamza Naeem who was visiting the zoo with nephews and nieces. He said he often brought his family to the zoo on weekends. “I am not sure if I would be able to keep up the practice with the new prices.”

Some of the visitors said they did not think the raise would affect the number of visitors to the zoo. “People will come here even if the ticket costs Rs100,” said Sidra Qaiser. The zoo would continue to attract them, particularly the children, she said. Qaiser said, however, that should not be a reason for raising the price.

Lahore Zoo Director Shafqat Ali said the prices had been revised after eight years. He said the zoo was a self-sustaining entity and that the revision had become necessary for its development. “We have to spend on salaries, pensions, animals and the maintenance of the zoo,” he said. Ali said had the zoo been earning more, it would not used government grants for acquiring animals.

He said the administration had retained the zoo’s repute as a place of learning. “We have announced special subsidy packages for school students. A group of 50 students is charged Rs600 and that of 100 Rs1,000,” the director said. The hike was approved at a meeting in December last year. The revised rates came into effect from January 13, 2016.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2016.