Islamabad may soon certify the development of a grand Safari Park, as the Capital Development Authority takes the first concrete steps for making this project into a reality. The civic agency made a decision to hire a consultant to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study, evaluating the technical and financial viability of the proposed park, which is expected to cost approximately Rs 10 billion.
The Development Working Party (DWP), in a meeting ratified the PC-II to hire a consultancy firm that will carry out the feasibility study and prepare a detailed engineering design. The study, which will cost Rs 173.4 million, has been allocated a six-month timeline for completion.
CDA spokesperson Shahid Kiani assured the approval, and he kept on highlighting that the consultant’s role will be crucial in determining the most suitable location for the park. “Shahid also said that the consultant will conduct a market analysis, technical assessment, and financial feasibility to ensure that the project is both sustainable and beneficial for the city,”.
Primarily, there were discussions regarding the creation of the Safari Park within Fatima Jinnah Park (F-9 Park). However, the CDA is now exploring the other locations to locate the best place for the project.
This development comes after the National Assembly was recently informed that the estimated cost of the Safari Park would be around Rs10 billion, with an expected completion time of approximately 18 months once construction starts. Interior Minister, in a written response to a query by MNA Tahira Aurangzeb during a question-hour session, confirmed the project’s intent but clarified that actual construction is not yet started.
The plan for the Safari Park appeared on the surface in the backdrop of Islamabad’s existing Marghazar Zoo, which was closed in 2020 after following the commands from the Islamabad High Court due to concerns over mismanagement and poor animal welfare conditions. The zoo’s operations, infrastructure, and land were handed over to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB).
Last year, the CDA argued that while the High Court had ordered the zoo’s closure, it did not mandate a permanent shutdown but rather a restructuring in line with international zoological standards. The CDA environment wing has prepared a summary and that was all about zoo’s previous role in conservation, preservation, and the security of various animal and bird species within the Margalla Hills National Park. Officials explained that since the zoo’s closure, there has been a visible decline in the fauna population of the area, which is the reason behind the destruction of the natural ecosystem and biodiversity.
Despite these concerns, the CDA has now shifted its focus from regaining control of Marghazar Zoo to setting up a new Safari Park, which, if executed successfully, could become a major source of attraction for residents and tourists alike.