Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, during a high-level meeting of the Forestry and Environment Department on Wednesday, granted principal approval for the development of a state-of-the-art safari park in Nowshera district.
Spanning 560 acres—double the size of Lahore Safari Park—the proposed project will be situated on government-owned land in Misri Banda, identified as the most suitable location for the initiative.
With an estimated development cost of Rs 3.5 billion, the safari park is expected to be completed within three years and will be included in the upcoming Annual Development Program (ADP).
The project aims to serve as a multi-faceted destination promoting tourism, eco-tourism, recreation, job creation, and environmental preservation. Planned features include a botanical garden, bird sanctuary, natural history museum, and a cultural heritage village. Once operational, the park is projected to generate annual revenue of Rs 360 million.
Chief Minister Gandapur underscored the importance of maintaining environmental integrity, directing that the project incorporate minimal grey infrastructure to ensure ecological sustainability.
He also instructed officials to explore various implementation models, including public-private partnerships, to enhance the project’s feasibility and long-term impact.
