PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Monday inaugurated the long-awaited Peshawar Zoo.

A statement issued here quoted Mr Khattak as saying that the provincial government had paved the way to make Peshawar the country’s most beautiful city.

The function was also addressed by environment minister Ishtiaq Urmar, MPA from the area Yaseen Khan Khalil and environment secretary Syed Nazar Hussain Shah, who highlighted various aspects of the newly-established zoo and termed it historical project, while speaker KP assembly Asad Qaisar and MPAs and MNAs of Peshawar were also present on this occasion.

The CM said Peshawar Zoo was a gift for the people of Peshawar and that it would not only add to the environmental and aesthetic betterment and beautification of the city but also become a symbol of peace and prosperity for the people of the unrest and terror-stricken province.

Asks admin to bring exotic animals, birds to Rs270m facility

He said it was the first zoo in the country, which had been developed in line with the international parameters under a comprehensive master plan.

Mr Khattak said all other existing zoos in the country had been established under the old structures.

He said the zoo was spread over a vast area of 29 acres of land and Rs270 million had been spent on it against the estimated cost of Rs2,100 million, while almost all species of wild animals and birds from across the country had been caged there in natural habitat.

The CM said other rare species of animals including elephants, lions, reptiles and birds from abroad were being brought to the zoo at the cost of Rs260 million.

He said the environment-friendly zoo would not only please visitors and tourists but also become a source of research for the students of zoology who otherwise travelled to Islamabad and Lahore for the purpose.

Mr Khattak said the government was striving for the development of environment sector and all those efforts were recognised on both national and international levels.

He said the Billion Tree Tsunami Afforestation project spoke of their tireless efforts in that respect.

The CM 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 KP.

He said the rapid bus transit and heritage trail projects were in the last stages of completion, while the general bus stand was also being shifted to new vast area near Chamkani.

Mr Khattak said the Greater Peshawar Circular Train project linking five districts with Peshawar had been included in the CPEC projects to be executed soon.

He said the three mega projects would considerably improve the transport system in Peshawar.

He said 14 main parks in Peshawar were devoid of greenery and filled with garbage, while its 350 gardeners worked in houses of the officers but all those parks had been restored with ever green plants and flowers while roads and bazaars of the city had also been cleared from encroachments” he added.

He said two big stadiums of Peshawar had been improved to international level, while the Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium was also being developed at the cost of Rs1.5 billion.

“International events will soon take place in these stadiums” he added.

Later, the chief minister along with the speaker of the KP Assembly, ministers, MNAs and MPAs inspected various portions of the zoo and asked the administration to bring in animals and birds from abroad as soon as possible.

He also inaugurated dual carriage way from Spin Jumat to the zoo as well as approved the construction of dual carriage road from the Ring Road Palosai junction to the zoo.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2018