Diversified species, natural habitat: Punjab government earmarks Rs 735 million for 10 schemes

The Punjab government has earmarked Rs 735 million to initiate seven new and complete three ongoing schemes in the budget for the financial year 2016-17 with a view to protect, conserve, manage and sustain diversified species and their natural habitat.
According to the budget documents, big initiatives to be undertaken during 2016-17 are development of 'Animal Safaris' and improvement of existing facilities at Safari zoo Lahore (Phase-II), establishment of National Safari Park in Salt Range, Improvement & Development of Jallo Safari, Lahore and Improvement/ Modernisation of Lahore Zoo.
It may be worth mentioning that the government had allocated Rs 700 million under this head in the outgoing financial year 2015-16 but later the budget was cut and brought down to 387.574 million for 12 ongoing and 04 new development schemes. The revised budget was released to the department out of which 89 per cent (Rs 343.872) have been utilised.
Outgoing financial year's major interventions have been improvement/ rehabilitation of Wildlife Park Bansra Gali Murree; development of animal safaris and improvement of existing facilities at Safari Zoo, Lahore; establishment of Deer Safari and improvement of Wildlife Park Changa Manga District Kasur.
The scheme which were completed during the current financial year included development of Animal safaris and Improvement of existing facilities at Safari Zoo, Lahore; establishment of Deer Safari and Improvement of Wildlife Park Changa Manga; PC-II for establishment of zoo at Multan; Protection, Conservation and Sustainable Development of Wetland at Taunsa Barrage District Muzaffargarh; and Establishment of Chinkara and Blackbuck Breeding Centre, Lal Suhanra National Park, Bahawalpur. PC-II of establishment of National Safari Park in Salt Range and Improvement/Rehabilitation of Wildlife Park Vehari was also completed by the department during the current year.