Karachi: A high-level meeting on Karachi Zoo and Safari Park was held under the chairmanship of Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab. The meeting was attended by Municipal Commissioner Afzal Zaidi, Financial Advisor Gulzar Ali Abro, Senior Director Coordination Ikhlaq Ahmed Yousafzai, Senior Director Recreation Imran Rajput, and other relevant department officials. During the meeting, the mayor discussed details with officials regarding the zoo and safari park and instructed that new animals be added to Karachi Zoo. He also directed that an audio-visual library for children be established, pet shows be held, and CCTV cameras be installed at all four entrances to ensure security for visitors.
According to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, Mayor Karachi noted that Wednesdays are dedicated to women at Karachi Zoo, making it the only recreational space in Karachi with an entire day reserved for women to freely enjoy the facilities. He suggested inviting students from various schools and colleges to visit on the women-only day to observe animals and birds up close and benefit from other amenities. Additionally, he called for measures to boost animal breeding within the zoo and emphasized the swift completion of remaining development projects under mega projects. He described the zoo as a historic asset, highlighting the importance of its preservation and improvement.
The mayor also recommended exploring options to introduce facilities like ziplining at the zoo. He stressed the need for high-quality food at the zoo’s food stalls and instructed contractors to provide healthy and quality refreshments to visitors. Mayor Karachi inquired about the food provided to the animals and directed that around 900 animals and birds at the zoo be given fresh and nutritious food. He announced plans to visit the Landhi and Korangi Zoo this week to inspect the facilities.
Regarding Safari Park, Mayor Karachi also received updates and issued instructions to enhance the park’s standards. He emphasized taking special care of the animals’ health, warning that contractors failing to provide quality services would be blacklisted immediately. Officials informed him that the Dino Safari contract had ended and was now being managed by KMC. Similarly, the contracts for Jumbo Jumping, the canteen, horse riding, and parking had expired. Mayor Karachi highlighted that there was significant potential for improvement in Safari Park and encouraged officials to provide proposals to make it a top-notch, fully-equipped recreational park. He concluded by noting that recreational facilities are essential, especially in a densely populated city like Karachi, making it crucial to provide ample recreational opportunities.