Pakistan's first wildlife hospital completed in Punjab

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan’s first wildlife hospital has been completed under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, with facilities aimed at treating and protecting animals, birds and wild species.

A briefing was given to Punjab Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb during her visit to the Forest and Wildlife Command and Control Centre.

Officials said the hospital has been equipped with modern facilities, including 12 operation theatres and two examination rooms.

The senior minister said the establishment of the facility marks an important milestone in wildlife treatment and conservation.

The meeting was also briefed on plans to transform Jallo Park into a modern ecotourism destination under a public-private partnership model. A master plan and business plan are being prepared for the project.

Officials said advanced technology, including AI, long-range thermal cameras, live surveillance and satellite monitoring, is being used to monitor forests and detect fires promptly.

The briefing stated that Punjab had crossed the milestone of planting 50 million saplings in one year, while more than 10 million additional plants are being planted during the monsoon campaign.

A total of 285 geo-tagged nurseries are now operational across the province, with digital monitoring and records maintained for each plant.

Construction of the Giraffe Café and Tree House Café at Safari has also been completed. The facilities are intended to promote modern recreation and ecotourism.

The meeting was further informed that 215 women have joined the Forest Rangers Force, which comprises more than 5,000 personnel. Authorities have also imposed fines exceeding Rs10 million during operations against illegal timber cutting.

Progress on wildlife and ecotourism projects, including Changa Manga and Safari, was reviewed during the meeting.