Development project: Efforts under way to rehabilitate Karachi Zoo

KMC and Sindh govt plan to bring zoo on a par with international standards


Naeem Khanzada November 16, 2018
PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The Sindh government and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) have decided to demolish more than 50 shops around the Karachi Zoo. Notices have already been issued to the shopkeepers and demolition work will begin soon. The Sindh government and KMC have reached a consensus for the beautification and renovation of Karachi Zoo to bring it on a par with international standards. Rehabilitation and restoration work has already been started under Karachi mega projects by the Sindh government.

The decision of a large-scale operation against encroachments around the zoo and its gardens has been taken in this regard. More than 50 shops built on the zoo's land, between gate number one and gate number five, have been issued eviction notices by KMC's estate department.

Sources say that KMC has devised a strategy with regards to this project which includes the purchase of new cages, but due to the encroachments on gate number one, the  work had been delayed and hence the decision to remove encroachments. The leases of shops within limits of the zoo have also been cancelled and soon the work to demolish them will begin. One zoo official also said that work on cage numbers four, seven and eight is swiftly under way, along with preparations to build washrooms by gate numbers four, five and one. New water lines have also been installed at the zoo and new sewerage lines will be installed in the coming days. The renovations will be completed by next month and the washrooms will open to public, they said.

According to sources, 50% of the grant that has been approved by the Sindh government has been utilised and if funds are not stopped, the renovations would soon be completed. They confirmed that work had been completed on the basic infrastructure. If the project continues at the same pace, Karachi Zoo will soon become a central attraction for locals and residents will have a better entertainment facility at their disposal by June 2019.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2018.

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