Punjab government has allocated huge area for a national park in salt range, situated along the south of the Potohar Plateau and the North of the Jhelum River.
According to the details, Chief Minister of Punjab Usman Buzdar said in a tweet, “As per the vision of PM, Punjab Cabinet has declared 13,700 Acres area of Simli Forest, in Salt Range, as “National Park”
“This will not only preserve our environment and improve tree cover, but all kinds of hunting will also be banned for conservation of wildlife.”
The Salt Range has a high level of biodiversity and is home to a number of wildlife sanctuaries including ChumbiSurla, Jahlar Lake, Sodhi, Khabekki Lake and KundalRakh.
Salt range is also home for some protected areas, including the Chinji National Park and several forest (e.g. Simli Reserved Forest and Noorpur Reserved Forest) and wetland areas including Ucchali, Jahlar and Khabbiki lakes.
Simli Forest is already declared as reserved area and now it going to be converted into a national park consisting on the area of 13,700 Acres.
It is pertinent to mention that the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Imran Khan, launched the Clean Green Pakistan Movement (CGPM) on 13th October 2018.
This national campaign underpins behavioural change and institutional strengthening while envisaging the need to address five components: plantation, solid waste management, liquid waste management/ hygiene, total sanitation, and safe drinking water.
