CM approves establishment of safari park in Nowshera

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday approved the establishment of a state-of-the-art safari park in Nowshera district.

Chairing a meeting of the Department of Forests and Environment, the chief minister directed the officials concerned to include the project in the next Annual Development Programme (ADP) for execution on ground.

Adviser to the Chief Minister, Musavir Khan, along with senior officials from the Departments of Forests and Environment, Finance, and Planning & Development, attended the meeting. An official communique said the officials briefed participants on various aspects of the proposed safari park.

It was told that the proposed safari park would span 560 acres, wice the size of the Lahore Safari Park, and would be established in Misri Banda, Nowshera, where government land was readily available.

The site has been deemed highly suitable for such a project based on its location. The park is estimated to cost Rs 3.5 billion and is expected to be completed within three years. It will feature comprehensive facilities for tourists, including a botanical garden, bird enclosures, an aviary, a cultural village, and a natural history museum.

The primary objectives of the park are to provide recreational opportunities to the public, conserve wildlife and plant species, promote eco-tourism, and create green employment opportunities.

It was further informed that the provincial government anticipates an annual revenue of approximately Rs 360 million from the park once operational. The chief minister instructed authorities to immediately transfer the designated government land to the Forest Department.

He emphasized that the park should be environmentally friendly and incorporate minimal grey infrastructure in its design. He also directed that, in addition to the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, all other viable implementation models be explored for the project.