Tilla Jogian gets ‘national park’ status

The Department of Forests has bestowed the ‘National Park’ status to the dense Tilla Jogian forest of Jhelum - the oldest and most protective spread over an area of 10,000 acres.

A walking track, benches for family, washrooms, a rest house, construction and decoration of all kinds of swings, and tuck shops for children are under construction for tourists. The project, which is the brainchild of the Forest Department's Sustainable Division, will cost a total of Rs30 million.

The project is due for completion by April and will be open for tourists.

Separately, there is also a ban on deforestation and hunting in Tilla Jogian National Park. The forest security guards will be deployed in this national park. Closed circuit cameras will be installed, and a large parking area will also be made. Check posts will also be set up for additional security.

A record number of fruit trees are also being planted at the park for the breeding of wild birds. All the regional fruits will be planted at the park. further, mini ponds will also be built to breed fish and to make aquatic habitat.

The street lights will be installed in various places in the park and a 100-foot high tower will also be built for tourists. Tourist families will be able to visit the entire area.

The forest will be the second-largest national park in the Rawalpindi division.

It will be the National Park of Rawalpindi with state-of-the-art tourist facilities. The first national park was built in the Chenji Forest, at the confluence of Chakwal and Attock.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2022.