Mayor wants audio-visual library for children at zoo

Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab has issued instructions for establishing an audio-visual library for children at the Karachi Zoo.

Chairing a high-level meeting on the affairs of the zoo and Safari Park, he also instructed Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) officials to organise pet shows and install CCTV cameras at all the entrances of the two recreational facilities to ensure the visitors’ security.

The meeting decided to add new animals to the Karachi zoo. The mayor noted that Wednesdays were dedicated to women at the Karachi Zoo, making it the only recreational space in Karachi with a day exclusively reserved for women.

He suggested inviting students from various schools and colleges to visit the zoo on the women-only day, allowing them to observe animals and birds up close and benefit from the other amenities.

Additionally, he called for measures to boost animal breeding within the zoo and urged the prompt completion of ongoing development projects. He described the zoo as a historic asset of the city, underscoring the importance of its preservation and enhancement.

Wahab emphasized the need for high-quality food at the zoo’s food stalls and instructed the contractors to provide healthy and high-quality refreshments to the visitors. He also inquired about the food being provided to the animals and directed that approximately 900 animals and birds at the zoo be given fresh and nutritious meals. He also announced his plan to visit the Korangi zoo this week to inspect its facilities.

Regarding the Safari Park, the mayor received issued instructions to raise the park's standards. He stressed the need for taking special care of the animals' health and warned that the contractors who failed to provide quality services would be blacklisted immediately.

The meeting was told that the contracts for safari, Jumbo Jumping, canteen, horse-riding and parking at the Safari Park had ended. The mayor said there was substantial potential for improvement in the Safari Park and encouraged officials to present proposals to develop it into a top-notch fully-equipped recreational facility.

He concluded by noting that recreational facilities were essential, especially in a densely populated city like Karachi. Those who attended the meeting included KMC Metropolitan Commissioner Afzal Zaidi, Financial Advisor Gulzar Ali Abro, Senior Director Coordination Ikhlaq Ahmed Yousafzai and Senior Director Recreation Imran Rajput.