Revamp of historic Takht Pari Forest in the offing

The Forest department has approved the upgradation of Rawalpindi's 300-year-old dense Takht Pari Jungle, declaring it a best recreational spot along with its expansion.

Organised by the Rawalpindi divisional forest officer, this ancient historical forest will have new plantations, jogging tracks, special sitting areas for tourist families, benches and a large pond for wildlife and arrangement will be installed on all sides for fool-proof security.

The DEO has also decided to purchase all types of saplings from the private sector. These plants will be purchased from the private sector. Six to eight feet high plants will be purchased and for which tenders have also been issued. In this regard, tender offers have been sought from all private sector nurseries for the supply of these plants and the said extension construction by March 15.

The new amusement park will also have new lighting, a cafeteria, food stalls and a parking area, while a large pond will also have fish seed. The purpose is to provide waterhole for wildlife and attract the waterfowl.

Under this new recreational forest project, pine, sukh chain, olive, ashoka, jikarenda, popular, kuchanar, gul nishtrim, arjun and all types of fruit trees will be planted here.

Apart from this, the forest department has decided to continue the 10 billion tree project of the former PTI government and a formal schedule has also been issued in this regard. Under the project, 1 million saplings of different types will be planted in Rawalpindi division from March 15 to December 31, 2024. It is being sold at Rs5 per plant from specific nurseries and stalls. This project will be completed under the supervision of the Director of Forests Extension Circle Rawalpindi.

Currently, 1.78 million new plants are in the final stages in the nurseries of the Forest department of Sargodha. These plants will be planted in Rawalpindi and Sargodha region. These plants have been prepared at Sargodha Central Forest Nursery.

Director Forest Extension Circle Abdul Quddus says that one million saplings will be planted in Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock and Chakwal areas in Rawalpindi Division. The teams, who would plant the saplings, would also be responsible for ensuring their safety, he added.