In Pakistan, a national park is an area of outstanding scenic merit, where the landscape, flora and fauna are protected and preserved in their natural state and public access for recreation, education and research is provided for. Access roads and other facilities should be planned so they do not conflict with the main objectives of national parks. Hunting wild animals is prohibited, as is firing a gun or otherwise interfering with animals or plants. Clearing land for cultivation, mining or allowing polluted water to flow in National Parks is also prohibited. Under the regulations, these acts may be allowed for scientific purposes or to improve the park.
As well as National Parks, Pakistan also has: Wildlife Sanctuaries: Wildlife Sanctuaries are areas set aside for the protection of wildlife. Public access is prohibited or regulated and no exploitation of forests is allowed.Game reserves: Hunting and shooting of wild animals is regulated under permit. The numbers of shoots allowed in reserves varies, and is determined by provincial governments.
Location and size of National Parks
There are 14 National Parks in Pakistan and AJK, covering a total area of 2,753,375 ha. The average size of protected areas is 196,670 ha.
National Park
Region
IUCN
category
Size ha
Date
1.Ayubia
North West Frontier Province
V
1,684
1984
2.Central Karakoram
Northern Areas
?
973,845
1995
3.Chinji
Punjab
II
6,070
1987
4.Chitral Gol
North West Frontier Province
II
7,750
1984
5.Deosai Plains
Northern Areas
?
363,600
1993
6.Handrap Shandhoor
Northern Areas
?
51,800
1993
7.Hazarganji-Chiltan
Balochistan
V
15,555
1980
8.Hingol
Balochistan
II
699,088
1997
9.Khunjerab
Northern Areas
II
227,143
1975
10.Kirthar
Sindh
II
308,733
1974
11.Lal Suhanra
Punjab
V
51,588
1972
12.Machiara
AJK
?
13,593
1996
13.Margalla Hills
Federal Capital Territory
V
17,386
1980
14.Sheikh Buddin
North West Frontier Province
IV
15,540
1993
IUCN Categories
The IUCN Directory of South Asian Protected Areas(1990), categorises protected areas and outlines their objectives:
Scientific Reserve/Strict Nature Reserve
To protect nature and maintain natural processes in an undisturbed state in order to have ecologically representative examples of the natural environment available for scientific study, environmental monitoring, education, and for the maintenance of genetic resources in a dynamic and evolutionary state.
National Park
To protect natural and scenic areas of national or international significance for scientific, educational and recreational use.
Natural Monument/Natural Landmark
To protect and preserve nationally significant natural features because of their special interest or unique characteristics.
Managed Nature Reserve/Wildlife Sanctuary: to assure the natural conditions necessary to protect nationally significant species, groups of species, biotic communities or physical features of the environment.
Protected Landscape or Seascape
To maintain nationally significant natural landscapes which are characteristic of the harmonious interaction of man and land while providing opportunities for public enjoyment through recreation and tourism within the normal life style and economic activity of these areas
Pakistan's National Parks fall into IUCN categories II, IV, V, but some have not yet been put into a category.
