ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) brought in a pair of African lions to the Marghazar Zoo on Sunday through the Punjab government’s Exchange of Birds and Animals Programme.

The new additions were well received by zoo visitors, as the last king of the jungle at the zoo died in 2005.

“The visitors were very happy, they got the chance to see lions in this zoo after 11 years,” said zoo director Rashid Khan.

He said the lions were brought in exchange for two zebras and three barking deer.

CDA to expand zoo from 25 to 80 acres under controversial project

Discussing the option to bring in a mate for Kavaan the elephant, Mr Khan said: “Negotiations for the provision of a female elephant with the Sri Lankan government through their embassy are at the final stages, and it is expected that an elephant will also be added very soon.”

A Facebook campaign to name the two lions will also be started by the CDA. Suggestions have been invited and the most suggested name will be chosen.

Zoo expansion project

On Sunday, the CDA called an expression of interest (EOI) for the expansion of Marghazar Zoo, under Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (DBOT), but many senior CDA officials have raised concerns over the move.

Under the DBOT, the CDA sought an EOI from private national and international firms for the up-gradation, development and operation of the zoo.

Advertisements by the CDA state that the authority wants to expand the zoo from 25 acres to 80 acres, but did not mention the period of time that the management and operations of the zoo would be in the hands of the winning firm.

Many CDA officials have claimed that the zoo is going to be handed over to front men of a political personality in the name of the DBOT. Rumours of an alleged nexus between the CDA management and a political personality have also been circling.

One official asked: “It’s a game of 80 acres of land, at a time when the CDA has a sufficient budget. Why does it want to do the expansion project through private parties?”

He added that the CDA previously had to spend around Rs10 billion on the non-development budget. “Now our major chunk – 60pc – of human resources is going to be shifted to the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation. That means we can save a significant amount in terms of salaries, while several new auctions of plots are also on the cards,” he said.

“As of today, we have Rs2.5 billion in our account. Carrying out a zoo expansion project is a small thing for an organisation like us,” a CDA official said.

Another official said under the CDA Ordinance 1960 the authority cannot make any deals with private parties.

He said the CDA previously initiated a similar project, of the construction of a toll plaza, which became controversial after reports of corruption and eventually, some CDA officials faced strict action.

However, Member Environment Sanaullah Aman, who initiated the zoo expansion project, said the ordinance allows the CDA to get projects through the DBOT basis.

“The ordinance bars us from initiating the project under public private partnership, while the DBOT is a different thing,” he said.

When asked about the timeframe, Mr Aman said: “We will see it later on. I think we will give the zoo’s management for four to five years.”

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2016