LAHORE: Consideration has been started to open the Lahore Zoo, which has been closed for 7 months, for tourists on Eid, but the final decision in this regard will be taken by the senior provincial minister.
The zoo was closed in November 2023 due to the resurfacing project. The then Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi inaugurated the re-weaping project, for which an amount of more than 1.83 billion rupees was allocated. Under the project, the re-veeping of Lahore Zoo was to be completed by January 31.
The zoo is an independent institution, which bears its own expenses, but the reserve funds of Rs. is facing
90% of the renovation work of the zoo has been completed and a large number of new animals and birds have also been brought in, including Oryx, Chaltan Markhor, Sindh Ibex, Pattas Monkey, Spring Buck, Blissbuck, Sable, while various species of birds are included. Parrots, hawks, songbirds and other birds are included.
The elephant will no longer be able to come to the zoo, but the caretaker chief minister had promised to bring in a panda, which is yet to materialise. However, the work of providing other facilities including tunnel safari, hologram has been completed.
Director Lahore Zoo Azim Zafar said that all the preparations are complete in the zoo, some work is left which can be completed even after the opening of the zoo. There will be no hindrance in this work due to tourists. He said that the decision to open the zoo for tourists has to be taken by the higher authorities.
On the other hand, sources say that the decision to reopen the zoo has to be taken by the senior minister of Punjab, Maryam Aurangzeb. Maryam Aurangzeb has so far visited Lahore Safari Zoo but she has not visited the zoo yet. Only after her visit will the decision to open the zoo be taken.
Meanwhile, in the budget 2024-25, Rs 70 crore has been allocated for the re-veeping of Lahore Zoo. The former caretaker government had allocated Rs 1 billion 83 crores for this project, of which Rs 1 billion 13 crores have been spent.
