Khattak inaugurates zoo in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that the provincial government has paved the way to make Peshawar one of the most beautiful cities in Pakistan and even the world over.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a zoo at Rahatabad adjacent to the University of Peshawar, said an official handout. The function was also addressed by Provincial Minister for Environment Ishtiaq Urmar, MPA from the area Yasin Khan Khalil and secretary environment Syed Nazar Hussain Shah who highlighted various aspects of the newly established zoo and termed it a historical project.

Besides officials and notables of the city, KP Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and MPAs and MNAs from Peshawar were also present on the occasion.The chief minister appealed to the media to project the PTI government good work while pointing out the flaws.

Pervez Khattak said that Peshawar zoo was a matchless gift for people of Peshawar and even entire province. He said it would not only add to the environmental and aesthetic betterment and beautification, but also become a symbol of peace and prosperity for people of terror-stricken province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Pervez Khattak said it was the first zoo of Pakistan that has been set up as per international parameters under a comprehensive master plan. He said that all other existing zoos in the country have been established under the old structures.

The chief minister said that the new zoo was unique and bigger than all other zoos spreading on a vast area of 29 acres of land. He said Rs270 million have been spent on it against the estimated cost of Rs2100 million wherein almost all species of wild animals and birds existing in the country have been caged under natural habitat.

The chief minister said that other rare species of animals including elephants, lions, reptiles and birds from abroad were also being acquired for the zoo at a cost of Rs260 million. He said that the environment-friendly zoo would provide entertainment opportunities to the visitors and tourists and would also become a source of research for the students of zoology who otherwise travelled to Islamabad and Lahore for this purpose in the past.

The chief minister said the provincial government was giving special attention to the environment sector from the very beginning and the Billion Tree Tsunami afforestation project spoke of PTI’s efforts in this respect.

He said the environment department officials worked round-the-clock to achieve the tough target of planting one billion trees in the province that was a record and earned good name for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the country and abroad too.

The chief minister said two big sports stadiums of Peshawar had been improved to international level while Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium was also being developed at a cost of Rs1.5 billion. “International sports events will soon start here in these stadiums,” he added.

Later, the chief minister inspected various portions of the zoo. He asked the zoo management to add new animals and birds from other countries as possible. He also inaugurated dual carriageway from Speen Jumaat up to the zoo and approved the construction of dual carriage road from Ring Road Palosai junction to the zoo.