Islamabad: The government is planning to spend over PKR 4 billion during the next three years for preservation of 15 national parks (including nine new natural spreads across Pakistan) under a ‘proper’ management regime – with the initiative aimed at promoting eco-tourism, a news source reported on July 4. The project is expected to generate 5,000 jobs for the country’s youth demographic.
These details were revealed by Adviser to the Prime Minister Malik Amin Aslam, who was briefing the media about the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan launching the “Protected Areas Initiative” on Thursday.
He said that some of these spreads were previously notified in the seventies (1970s) but no proper mechanism was launched to protect these natural settings and the diverse species residing in them. These settings will now be declared protected and will be converted into national parks.
The PM’s adviser further revealed that a National Park Service will also be launched whose force, in the initial phase, will comprise of 5,000 youth citizens – hired and trained to encourage eco-tourism and protect the biodiversity in the said areas. He said that the prime minister is concerned about the protection of the near-extinct animals like ibex, snow leopard, blue sheep, urial, Marcopolo sheep, and blind dolphins.
Under this initiative, a total of 12 ecological zones (measured from the sea level to the highest point of K2) will need to be looked after. No commercial activity will be allowed in these parks and each is to have a dedicated conservation fund with the local communities having the first right to it.
Aslam said that the funds for this year have been transferred to provinces under the said initiative and are now to devise proper management plans for the national parks.
Meanwhile, the World Wide Fund-Pakistan (WWF) Director General Hammad Naqi Khan lauded the step and urged the government to revise laws for fines and punishments on illegal wildlife trade, poaching, infrastructural development, unsanctioned logging and encroachment on the forested land.
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