By Minahil Makhdoom
ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam said Wednesday that an overarching plan has been hammered out to transform the Islamabad Marghazar Zoo into a world-class wildlife conservation center.
He said a decision to this effect has been taken by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) during its second meeting held here on December 8. Chairman IWMB Rina Saeed Khan presided over the meeting.
Named as the Margalla Wildlife Conservation Center, the facility will be a first of its kind the state-of-the-art and well-planned set-up established as a part of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s clean and green agenda for overall environmental sustainability and wildlife conservation, which will be home to local wildlife species kept in open enclosures for both public entertainment, education and research purposes, the prime minister’s aide revealed.
Malik Amin Aslam emphasised, “This is completely a new concept rolled out under the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Clean and Green Pakistan Agenda and the incumbent government’s environmental-friendly and wildlife conservation and protection policies as a part of the biodiversity conservation efforts.â€
He said further that the wildlife conservation facility would span over 82 acres in the foothills of Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) and house wildlife sanctuaries, a vet hospital, rescue and trauma centre for indigenous species and research on the flora and fauna of MHNP.
Due to it’s close proximity with MHNP, the area is a natural habitat for wildlife species, which would be re-designed to help fulfill our national commitments regarding wildlife conservation, protection and their welfare goals, he added. The Special Assistant to PM said that all available resources would be utilised to develop a facility at the Margalla wildlife conservation centre to provide for rescue and rehabilitation to wildlife species in their natural habitat within MHNP.
It is also part of the plan to rescue and rehabilitate injured and abandoned wild animals as well as treat and feed them for their complete rehabilitation, which would be released back into the their natural habitats after their recovery at the rescue-cum-rehabilitation facility inside set up at the Margalla wildlife conservation centre.
Spelling out overarching objectives, Malik Amin Aslam said that the proposed wildlife conservation centre would aim to promote wildlife conservation and sustainability. The planned rehabilitation/rescue centre would be well-trained staffed with well-qualified and trained wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and management skills; veterinary and wildlife specialists to provide strong management with scientific operations based around the concept of animal well-being and health care for them, he added.
The PM’s aide also revealed that the wildlife conservation centre would also house an education and information centre for creating public awareness about local flora and fauna.
