The Wildlife Department of the Government of Punjab has decided to award the e-ticketing contract for various facilities, including parking and entry to the general area of Lahore Safari Zoo, to a private company. The contract will be granted through an open auction scheduled for August 6.
Following the revamping of the Lahore Safari Zoo, the Punjab Wildlife Department has begun preparations to involve the private sector. However, the management and care of the animals and birds in the Safari Park will remain under the control of Punjab Wildlife.
The park management has decided that a private company will handle e-tickets for parking, entry tickets, lion and tiger safari tickets, electric vehicle tickets, and aquarium entry. Currently, electric swings and horse riding facilities are provided by the private sector.
The private company will also be responsible for the maintenance and repair of electric vehicles and vehicles used in the lion and tiger safari.
According to Punjab Wildlife, the e-ticketing contract auction is scheduled for August 6. Documents from the participating companies will be reviewed on July 29, and the successful bidder will need to deposit Rs 16 lakh as security.
The reserve price for the e-ticketing contract auction has been set at Rs 8 crore. DG Punjab Wildlife Mudassir Riaz told a private news channel that the successful bidder will be required to charge tickets at the rates fixed by the department and will not have the authority to raise ticket prices independently.
He stated that the e-ticketing contract would be valid for two years, with the possibility of a one-year extension upon its expiration. He added that the company will deploy its staff to manage e-ticketing, addressing the current manpower shortage at the safari park.
The department’s staff currently assigned to parking, entry gates, electric vehicles, lion and tiger safari, and the zoo and aquarium will shift their focus to the care and welfare of animals and birds.
