The Punjab Cabinet has approved the issuance of a notification for the establishment of two more national parks in the province instead of improving the condition of four existing ones and promoting wildlife there.
The new national parks will be set up on 8,740 acres in Khairi Mort near Fateh Jang and 38,874 acres in Pubi near Kharian, while the Lal Suhanra National Park will be expanded.
However, Punjab Wildlife Protection and Parks Department officials said that no consultation has been held with the Punjab Wildlife Management Board for the creation of two new national parks and no feasibility and working plan exist in this regard.
Reportedly, two community-based organisations (CBOs) were working to protect and nurture wildlife in the areas where the new national parks will be created.
A senior official of wildlife department said that both the national parks would be built on forest department lands, while the funds would be utilised by wildlife department. “These two departments were under separate ministries and this would be illegal,” they alleged
According to wildlife department officials, there were currently four national parks in the province, including Lal Suhanra National Park, Changi National Park, Murree Kahuta, Kotli Satyan National Park and Kalachta National Park. Apart from Lal Suhanra, wildlife has become extinct in all the three other national parks.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2020.
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