Lahore Zoo’s Outsourcing to Private Firm and Ticket Price Hike Challenged in High Court

The outsourcing of Lahore Zoo and the steep hike in ticket prices have been challenged in the Lahore High Court.

The Judicial Activism Panel, a public interest organization, filed the petition through its chairman, Azhar Siddique. The petition claims the zoo has been handed over to a private company for Rs. 500 million.

According to the filing, the contract includes managing parking at the gates on The Mall and Lawrence Road, as well as entry fees and charges for attractions like the fish aquarium, snake house, aviary, and virtual reality experiences.

The petition highlights that the Punjab Wildlife Department declared the auction a success, surpassing the reserve price of Rs320 million by Rs. 180 million. However, it argues that outsourcing a public zoo, a critical recreational facility, in its entirety is inappropriate.

It states that only specific administrative functions may be outsourced, and even then, care must be taken to prevent financial strain on the public.

The filing contends that higher entry fees and additional charges have made the zoo less accessible. It requests the court to declare the outsourcing illegal, void the contract advertisement, and order full transparency regarding the process, ensuring public interest and fairness are upheld.