Madhubala to be relocated before July

LG minister says ready to dissolve Sindh Assembly if consensus is reached

KARACHI:

The second elephant of the Karachi Zoo, Madhubala, would be shifted to a sanctuary in Safari Park before July, the Provincial Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said on Friday.'

"All necessary precautions will be taken to safely relocate Madhubala, the elephant, from Karachi Zoo to Safari Park," he said presiding over a meeting.

The minister said that proposals to build a sanctuary for elephants in the Safari Park were also being considered. He said the government should review the plan to develop a larger Safari Park spread over a 1,000 acres area along Super Highway.

He expressed his commitment to providing welfare support for the animals in the zoo and regretted the recent passing of Noor Jahan. Shah appreciated the cooperation of the team from Four Paws in providing treatment to the ailing elephant Noor Jahan and hoped for their support in providing healthcare to other animals in the future.

Present on the occasion, Administrator Karachi Dr Syed Saifur Rahman said that the transfer of Madhubala from Karachi Zoo would be done before Eidul Azha which is expected at around June 28.

Nasir proposed that the sanctuary made for Madhubala would be named after Noor Jahan.

He also suggested reviewing plans to build a 1,000-acre safari park on the Super Highway for the citizens of Karachi. The minister emphasised that the elephants, Sonia and Malika, already present in Safari Park, should be taken care of.

Nasir Shah has said that if a consensus is reached, “we are ready to dissolve the Sindh Assembly 100 per cent.”

He said this while talking to host Rehman Azhar at the Center Stage programme aired on the Express News.

Shah said, “We are not saying that this today that we are ready to dissolve Sindh Assembly, subject to consensus, we have said it before too.”

He said that PPP had no fear if the assemblies were dissolved, “we will come back by winning the elections again.” Shah said that PPP wants the assemblies to complete their term.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2023.