The Punjab planning and development department has approved Rs 183 million for the Lahore Zoological Gardens to bring new animals and birds after revising the actual PC-I of Rs 332 million submitted by the zoo authorities. Sources in the Lahore Zoo told the Business Recorder that the administration had planned to increase animals and birds in order to boost recreational facilities for the visitors.
The actual project conceived by the authorities had an allocation Rs 332 million including the construction of a staff colony which was struck down by the planning and development department. "After the release of approved amount, we will buy different animals including the long-awaited giraffes and reptiles at the cost of Rs 112 million," Director Shafqat Ali told this scribe.
He said the zoo will spend Rs 60mn on civil and infrastructure development which includes the landscaping of seven kanals of areas and installing a new tube-well and other miscellaneous facilities. "We have decided to allocate Rs 6mn to increase the foreign exposure (FO) besides accommodation of foreigners," he added. The director further added that the remaining Rs 5mn would be spent on other miscellaneous expenses.