PESHAWAR – An international standard zoo would be set upon 50 acres in the Regi Lalma Town, Peshawar. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister (CM) Ameer Haider Khan Hoti approved recommendations of the committee formed to identify suitable location for the proposed zoo at his office on Saturday. Provincial Environment Secretary Zahoor Khalil, Peshawar Commissioner Akbar Khan, Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) Director General (DG) Qazi Laeeq, Chief Minister’s Secretary Tariq Jamil and Wild Life Chief Conservator Saeeduz Zaman attended the meeting.
The CM directed the environment secretary, the Peshawar commissioner and the PDA DG to submit a joint summary regarding the terms and conditions of this project and finalisation of all other requirements for its inclusion in the next annual developmental programme for Peshawar. Hoti said the need for a zoo in Peshawar was direly felt and the current situation demanded more entertainment opportunities to people, particularly children. He said the provincial government was committed to providing recreational facilities to people along with the restoration of peace in the province, promotion of education and provision of basic necessities of life. He said the proposed international standard zoo would protect birds and animals, entertain people and create environmental awareness.
The CM had formed a committee last month under the provincial environment secretary during a meeting with a group of children from Beaconhouse School System, Khyber Campus, Hayatabad. Other members of the committee included commissioner Peshawar and DG PDA. The committee presented a report regarding identification of a suitable location for the zoo and the CM approved it.
