The Punjab government has approved two major projects worth a total of Rs9.4 billion aimed at wildlife conservation and promoting eco-tourism across the province.
The projects cover areas including Jhelum, Attock, Chakwal, Mianwali, Changa Manga, Lal Suhanra (Bahawalpur), the Cholistan Desert, and the hilly regions of Koh-e-Suleman in Dera Ghazi Khan.
The first initiative, the Punjab Wildlife Conservation and Habitat Restoration Program, has a budget of Rs3.9 billion. It aims to stabilize declining wildlife populations, restore natural habitats, and involve local communities in conservation efforts. Community-based conservancies will be established in the Salt Range, Kala Chitta Range, and Koh-e-Suleman, while breeding and reintroduction programs will support species such as urial, chinkara, and Suleman markhor. Breeding centers and conservancies for partridge, blackbuck, chital deer, nilgai, and chinkara are also included in the program.
The second project, Eco-Tourism for Salt Range and Lal Suhanra National Parks, carries a budget of Rs5.5 billion. It will develop eco-lodges, tourist facilities, family picnic areas, hiking trails, viewpoints, and other environmentally friendly infrastructure. A new interchange on the M2 Motorway near the Salt Range is also part of the project to improve tourist access.
According to Director General Punjab Wildlife, Mubeen Ilahi, these projects are the first in the province to integrate conservation, tourism, and local community involvement under a unified strategy. Authorities say the model will not only protect wildlife and the natural environment but also create employment and economic opportunities for local residents.
The eco-tourism project is expected to be completed by June 2027, while habitat restoration and wildlife reintroduction initiatives will continue for an additional two years. Local communities have welcomed the projects as a positive step toward sustainable development and tourism growth in the region.
