27
July 2006
Appeal to governor to prevent
National park encroachment
LAHORE: WWF is alarmed
at the news item that appeared on
Tuesday, 26th July, in a national
newspaper, stating that the government
is about to allocate a large section
of the Hingol National park to the
Pakistan Air Force.
Hingol National Park,
the largest national park of the
country was notified as a national
park in 1997 owing to its ecological
and biodiversity importance. National
parks are established to protect
and preserve flora and fauna in
their natural state. Since they
are also established to provide
for public education and research,
access is permitted subject to restrictions.
Hingol National Park stretches over
600,000 hectares across Lasbela,
Gwader and Awaran districts. The
park includes both terrestrial and
marine components and is the first
and only protected area of this
type in the South Asia region. Hingol
is identified as a globally important
example of an arid or desert biodiversity
including low density populations
of many endangered and threatened
species. Along with its ecological
and biodiversity importance it also
houses shrines with religious significance
for muslims and hindus.
WWF appeals
to the honourable governor of Balochistan
Mr Awais Ghani to please intervene
in the matter and prevent the desecration
of such a globally significant area.
WWF would like to take this opportunity
to thank the honourable governor
for putting a stop to a similar
disaster from happening two years
ago when the government wanted to
include a part of Hazarganji National
park in the IT University Quetta.
For further
information:
Amjad Aslam
WWF – Pakistan,
Ferozepur Road, Lahore.
Tel: +92 42 5862360, 5869429
Fax: 042 5862358
e-mail: aaslam@wwf.org.pk
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