KARACHI: The Sindh government is learnt to have taken notice of the partial closure of Karachi Zoological Gardens, better known as Karachi Zoo, for the public on Feb 3 at the behest of a senior government official for the sake of a private function.

Sources said that Local Government Secretary Najam Shah and his family had arranged a birthday party for his daughter, in defiance of a bar placed on private celebrations at government facilities.

Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Sohail Ahmed Rajput told Dawn that the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the administrative body of the zoo, had asked for a report from the zoo administration to ascertain the facts.

Sources at the zoo said the LG secretary had ordered the zoo’s Mughal Garden closed to the general public so that his family could host a private function.

They said it was routine practice for people to celebrate birthdays at the Karachi zoo, but no hurdles should be posed to the general public or visitors.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.