The Punjab Wildlife Department has awarded a Rs135 million contract to a private company for managing operations at the Lahore Safari Park, while the department will retain responsibility for the care and breeding of the animals and birds.
Under the agreement, the private company will handle key functions including parking, ticketing, maintenance of the aquarium, electric vehicles, and lion safari vehicles.
The contract has been signed, and the company has begun collaborating with the Lahore Safari Zoo administration to review the park’s operations.
Project Director Mudassir Hassan explained that the reserve price was initially set at Rs80 million, factoring in all related expenses. “We are pleased the contract was awarded for Rs135 million,” he stated.
Hassan added that the contractor would oversee vehicle repairs, electricity costs, and the maintenance and feeding of the aquarium’s fish. Separate auctions will be conducted for the café, electric rides area, and horse riding, with a review of previous contracts also planned.
He further noted that staff previously involved in parking, ticketing, and operating electric vehicles would now focus solely on the care of the animals and birds.
“Efforts will be made to ensure that contractual employees continue their roles under the new contractor, securing their jobs,” Hassan added.
This contract is part of a larger initiative by the caretaker Punjab government, led by Mohsin Naqvi (now the interior minister), to revamp both the Lahore Safari Zoo and the Lahore Zoo. The total project cost is estimated at Rs5 billion, with Rs2 billion already spent on the safari park. However, plans to introduce elephants and giraffes are still in progress.
Previously, the Punjab Wildlife Department relied on funding from the finance department for the safari zoo’s expenses, but now the zoo is expected to become financially self-sustaining.
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