SR. MINISTER FOR PROPER FACILITIES IN ZOO 

ZOO IN DIFFERENT CITIES SOON: ABDUL ALEEM KHAN

Senior Punjab Minister Abdul Aleem Khan has directed that the Zoos should be provided accommodation and other facilities to the wildlife as per their capacity where efforts should be made to provide maximum natural habitat to them. He added that for this purpose professional  services should be sought from world class experts to provide more comfort to the animals. While presiding over a high level meeting during his visit to Lahore Zoo, Senior Punjab Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said that different objections have been raised on social media and core committee meetings on which a detailed report should be prepared. Abdul Aleem Khan said that Prime Minister Imran Khan has a personal interest in wildlife, their health and providing them with a suitable environment for which the Zoos and safari parks must be brought up to international standards. Abdul Aleem Khan asked the administration of Lahore Zoo that how many animals died in the last one year, what were their causes and what steps are being taken to prevent it. Senior Minister directed that a review meeting would be held in two weeks in which a plan for the next 5 years of Lahore Zoo should be submitted as well as new zoos should be built in Multan, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sialkot and other cities of Punjab so that the citizens there can also have this facility of entertainment. Director General of the Wildlife Department, Deputy Commissioner Lahore and the Director of Lahore Zoo gave a detailed briefing in the meeting in which it was stated that the annual budget of the Lahore Zoo is Rs. 17 crore and the revenue is around Rs. 19 crore which has been reduced due to corona.

Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan also visited various departments of Lahore Zoo and inspected the facilities being provided there. He also visited the hospital of the Zoo where he was briefed on the medical facilities provided to the animals. Concerned officers told that on social media only apparent situation is reflected while there are a number of technical and other reasons behind it. Senior Minister Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized on increasing the facilities provided to animals and said that we have to keep in mind the models of other countries and upgrade this important entertainment for children as much as possible. He stressed that important decisions will be taken for the up gradation of Lahore Zoo to be held in the mid of June 2021.