LAHORE: The Punjab Wildlife Department has awarded a contract worth Rs135m to a private company for the management of the Lahore Safari Park. However, the department will continue overseeing the care and breeding of the wildlife, including animals and birds.

Under the agreement, the private company will manage key operations such as parking, entry tickets, aquarium maintenance, electric vehicles and lion safari vehicles.

The contract has beensigned and the company has already begun reviewing operations along with the Lahore Safari Zoo administration.

Project Director Mudassir Hassan said the reserve price was set at Rs80m, taking into account all associated costs.

`We are pleased that the contract was awarded for Rs135m,` he said.

Hassan added that the contractor would be responsible for vehicle repairs, electricity bills and the upkeep and feeding of the nsh in the aquarium. Separate auctions would be held forthe café, electric rides area and horse riding with a review of previous contracts also in the works.

Hassan further noted that the staff previously involved in parking management, ticket collection and driving electric vehicles would now focus solely on care of the animals and birds.

`Efforts will also be made to ensure that contractual employees continue their work under the new contractor, preserving their jobs.

The contract is part of an initiative launched by the caretaker government of Punjab underMohsin Naqvi, now interior minister, to revamp both the Lahore Safari Zoo and the Lahore Zoo.

The combined cost of the projects was estimated to be Rs5bn, with approximately Rs2bn already spent on the safari park. However, plans to bring elephants and giraffes to the park are still pending.

Previously, the Punjab Wildlife Department had to rely on funds from the finance department for the Lahore Safari Zoo`s expenses. Now, the zoo is expected to become a self-sustaining entity, generating revenue independently.