Plan to renovate Lohi Bher Park

Plans to bring animals, birds, install swings and rides to make it a recreational spot

RAWALPINDI: After falling prey to the government’s negligence for 20 years, the forest department and district administration have finally decided to renovate Lohi Bher Park.

The forest secretary visited the park yesterday and announced that the Punjab government would fund the renovation of the entire park. Not long ago, the district commissioner (DC) had also visited the park. He said wild animals and birds public attraction would be brought to the park to revive it as a public attraction spot.

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The park will have electronic swings for children while new benches would also be installed along with different food stalls.

The park is spread over 450 acres near the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Islamabad Expressway, the wildlife park was established in 1992 to provide recreational facilities to residents. But due to the Punjab government’s apathy, now the facility presents a picture of neglect.

Glorious Rawalpindi project

Rawalpindi Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Chairman Asif Mahmood on Tuesday said all the departments concerned would make efforts for the beautification of the city under 'Glorious Rawalpindi' project.

Chairing the first meeting of the Task Force formed by the Punjab government for revival of the city with 'Glorious Rawalpindi' title he said the Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had constituted the Task Force for the Glorious Rawalpindi project.

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The PHA chairman said the PHA Director General Syed Shafqat Raza and other members would identify the spots for uplifting while the PHA would be the executing agency. He informed that the Task Force had also been allowed to take the consultancy service for feasibility and design etc. After completion of the projects the sites would be handed over to the relevant department for maintenance, he added.

The meeting discussed Terms of Reference (TORs) of the Task Force besides underlining steps needed for beautification of the city including removal of encroachments, beautification of bus stops, construction of public toilets, beautification of government hospitals, traffic mess problems, dangling electric wires, beautification of old city areas, cleanliness campaign and awareness programme, monsoon plantation campaign and other issues. 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2019.