National Parks of Pakistan an overview

National parks of Pakistan

National Parks

Pakistan has a wide range of ecosystems which have a different type of biodiversity. Biodiversity of different areas varies from ecosystem to ecosystem. For example, biodiversity of mountainous areas is different from the biodiversity found in desert, or in the plane lands.

To protect these ecosystems and associated biodiversity government of Pakistan has established different protected areas. These protected areas have different criteria and rules and are managed in different ways.

National Parks are one of these protected areas. A National Park is a large area where one or several ecosystems are protected from human intervention. These ecosystems have plants, animals, geomorphological sites and habitats which are important form scientific, educational and recreational point of view. These are established by the government and complete legislation is done to protect it from human exploitation.

A national park has a large area, at least 1000 hectares. In National Park fauna is provided with its natural environment so they can roam freely. Activities which are harmful to wildlife are totally banned like hunting, shooting or capturing of wild animals. The public are allowed to access National Park only for education, research, and educational purposes.

History of national park

At first, the idea for the establishment of the national park came by William Wordsworth (1810), who described the Lake District as the national property. George Catlin who wrote about protecting native Americans in a national park along with the natural beauty. The first practical effort was made by the US Government on April 20, 1832, and President Andrew Jackson signed the legislation to establish the Hot Spring Reservation to protect the natural hot spring in Arkansas. Next effort was also made by the US Government on June 30, 1864.

Yellowstone National Park is the world’s first National Park which established in 1872.

                   In Pakistan at first 2 National Parks were established on the recommendation of WWF and later, on the recommendation of Wildlife Enquiry Committee 4 more National Parks were established, till 2000 this figure was of 14 and in 2009, 19 parks were established but today 29 National Parks are present in Pakistan. Government-owned parks are 21 while remaining 8 are privately organized.

Lal Suhanra National Park is Pakistan’s first National Park, established in 1972.

These Parks are:

Lal Shuhanra National Park

Lal Shuhanra National Park was established in 1972 and it is one of the largest national parks of Asia. It is located almost 32 km from Bahawal Pur and it has a variety of ecosystems. its area 87,426 hectares.

Margallah Hills National Park

Margallah Hills National Park was established in 1980 and is located in Islamabad. This park has an area of 17,386 hectares.

Hazarganji Chiltan National Park

This park was established in 1980 and is located in Baluchistan. It has an area of 15,555 hectares.

Hingol National Park

It was established in 1997, in Baluchistan and it has an area of 19,043 hectares.

Kirthar National Park

It is located in Sindh and was established in 1974, with an area of 3,08,733 hectares.

Ayubia National Park

Ayubia national park is located in KPK and was established in 1984. Area of this park is 3122 hectares.

Chitral Gol National Park

Is located in KPK and was established in 1984. Area of this park is 7,750 hectares.

Sheikh Badin National Park

it is located in KPK and was established in 1999. Area of this park is 15,540 hectares.

Saiful Maluk National Park

it is located in KPK and was established in 2003. Area of this park is 12,026 hectares.

Lulosar Dodipat National Park

it is located in KPK and was established in 1984. Area of this park is 75,058 hectares.

Broghil Valley National Park

it is located in KPK and was established in August 25, 2010. Area of this park is 134,744 hectares.

Khunjerab National Park

it is located in Gilgit-Baltistan and was established in 1975. Area of this park is 2,26,913 hectares.

Hunderab Shandoor Natioanl Park

it is located in Gilgit-Baltistan and was established in 1993. Area of this park is 1,65,000 hectares.

Deosai National Park

it is located in Gilgit-Baltistan and was established in 1993. Area of this park is 3,63,600 hectares.

Central Karakoram National Park

it is located in Gilgit-Baltistan and was established in 1993. Area of this park is 9,73,845 hectares.

Qurumber National Park

it is located in Gilgit-Baltistan and was established in August 2, 2011. Area of this park is 74,000 hectares.

Machhiara National Park

This Natioanl Park was established in 1996 and has an area of 13,532 hectares. It is located in AJ&K.

Ghamot National Park

This Natioanl Park was established in 2004 and has an area of 27,271 hectares. It is located in AJ&K.

Pir Lasoorha National Park

This Natioanl Park was established in 2005 and has an area of 1,580 hectares. It is located in AJ&K.

Toil Pir National Park

This Natioanl Park was established in 2005 and has an area of 1,000 hectares. It is located in AJ&K.

Musk Deer Gorez National Park

This Natioanl Park was established in 2007 and has an area of 52,815 hectares. It is located in AJ&K.

Deva Vatala National Park

This Natioanl Park was established in 2007 and has an area of 2,993 hectares. It is located in AJ&K.

Poonch River Mahaseer National Park

This Natioanl Park was established in. It is located in AJ&K.

Chinji National Park

This Natioanl Park was established in 1987 and has an area of 6,097 hectares. It is located in Punjab.

Kala Chitta National Park

This Natioanl Park was established in Dec 2008, and has an area of 36,965 hectares . It is located in AJ&K.

Murree-Kotli Sattian National Park

It is located in Punjab. it was established in Sep.2009.

Gurez National Park

K2 National Park

Ayub National Park

Data is collected from thesis available on research gate and also from some trusted web sites and govt journals.