ISLAMABAD, March 12: The environment ministry has launched environmental improvement and biodiversity projects worth Rs1.67 billion throughout the country. Of the total allocation Rs189 million would be spent on upkeep of parks in Rawalpindi, Chakwal and Attock districts, official documents said.

In Rawalpindi, the Army Heritage Foundation will spend Rs17 million on upkeep and provision of enhanced facilities in Ayub National Park. The district government will construct parks and improve urban environment at a cost of Rs39 million.

The Zoological Survey Department, Islamabad, will spend Rs39 million on survey of coastal areas, dryland, biodiversity.

The ministry has earmarked Rs12 million for improving urban environment in Chakwal district. Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, will construct a model park in Attock at a cost of Rs34 million. Similarly, the local government will utilize Rs24 million to improve urban environment of Hazro city.

The Punjab forest department will spend Rs24 million on the rehabilitation of Potohar tract with the participation of local communities.

The Rs26.39 million global forest facility protected area management project will be executed by forest departments of Azad Kashmir, Balochistan and the NWFP while forest sector research and development project worth Rs193.5 million will be undertaken by Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar.

Cherat wildlife park will be established in Nowshera district at a cost of Rs38 million by the Wildlife Department, NWFP government; while the Rs34 million Rachna Doab afforestation project will be executed by the Pakistan Army.

A project titled environmental rehabilitation and poverty reduction through watershed management in Tarbela reservoir catchment area will be undertaken by the NWFP forest department at a cost of Rs532 million.

Forest products research at Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar, will be strengthened at a cost Rs39 million; conservation and rehabilitation of Indus delta mangroves for sustainable management will be carried out by Sindh forest department at a cost of Rs39 million; and Rs72 million will be spent on the implementation of management plan for Ayubia national park, Abbottabad, by the NWFP wildlife department.

The AJK forest department will utilize Rs39 million on environment rehabilitation through promotion of indigenous tree species in south Azad Kashmir.