MUHAMMAD KABIR________DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY & WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT_UNIVERSITY OF HARIPUR_KPK

NATIONAL PARK
GENERAL DEFINITION OF NATIONAL PARK IN PAKISTAN
According to the 'Modern Protected Areas' legislation, Pakistan a national park is a protected
area set aside by the government for the protection and conservation of its outstanding scenery
and wildlife in a natural state. It is accessible to public for research, education and recreation.
National Park is a restricted area with limited access and activities.
GOVERNMENT RULES FOR NATIONAL PARK IN GIL GIT-BALTISTAN
Wildlife preservation act Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas) 1975 provides criteria for
establishment of National Parks, wildlife reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.
BENEFITS OF NATIONAL PARK TO LOCAL COMMUNITY

It preserve the ecosystem which is very important for surrounding communities

Visitors are encouraged due to natural beauty and they visited such protected areas
resulting increase the revenue and open many livelihood opportunities for local peoples
in terms of park entry fee, expeditions, wildlife survey etc.

Trophy hunting programs are also initiated in surrounding areas of National Parks
which is a big source of income for many communities.

Awareness and education of local communities about nature and animals.

NATIONAL PARKS IN PAKISTAN

There are 26 areas in Pakistan declared as National Parks. Central Karakoram National Park is
the largest while Toli Pir National Park is the smallest in Pakistan. National Parks in Pakistan
are shown in Table 1.
Table 1: National Parks in Pakistan
Province
Islamabad

National Parks
Margallah Hills National Park
Lal Suhanra National Park

Punjab

Chinji National Park

Kala Chitta National Park
Murree-Kotli Sattian-Kahuta National Park

Sindh

Kirthar National Park

Ayubia National Park
Chitral Gol National Park

Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Sheikh Badin National Park
Saiful Maluk National Park

National Park

Lulosar Dodipat National Park

Broghil Valley National Park
Balochistan

Hazarganji Chiltan National Park

Hingol National Park

Khunjerab National Park

Hunderab Shandoor National Park
GilgitBaltistan

Deosai National Park

Central Karakoram National Park
Qurumber National Park
Machhiara National Park
Ghamot National Park
Pir Lasoorha National Park

Azad Jammu
and Kashmir

Toli Pir National Park

Musk Deer Gorez National Park
Deva Vatala National Park
Poonch River Mahaseer National Park

ROLE OF NATIONAL PARK IN CONSERVATION

National Parks are plying an important role in the conservation. They have expert persons and
specified trained staff that look after natural resources and try to stop and report any illegal
activity which is harmful for plants and animals. Hunting of ungulate as well as carnivore is
strictly prohibited in the National park area. Hunters or poachers also avoid such areas due to
implementation of laws there. National Parks are necessary to conserve the population of some
endangered species which otherwise disappear.
In Pakistan it is hard to implement all the rules and regulations of National Parks due to
concerns and stakes of local people so management and conservation depends on amount of
community participation. Despite of many issues in National Parks management there are some
good examples of such parks which helped a lot in conservation. Deosai can be presented as an
example of such conservation where brown population has become deceased up to less than 20
animals in 1993 but after declaration of the Deosai Nation Park it started increasing and reach
up to more than 40 animals in 2006 (Nawaz, 2007). In Chitral Gol National Park markhor
population has increased many folds after proper conservations actions.

National Park