Notes on national parks in Pakistan

A national park is a land reserve and processed by the government. These parks are designed for the prevention and protection of outstanding scenery, great areas, and natural plants and animals and to prevent these things from hunting, cutting, and other harmful things such as pollution.

History about national parks

William Wordsworth was the first person who gave the establishment of the national park.

He said that Lake District belonged to the national property so a national park was built there. Native Americans were preserved as a splendid park and this idea was given by George Catlin.

On 20 April 1832 government in the USA made the first practical effort when President Andrew Jackson gave an order to establish a hot spring reservation in Arkansas. The next effort was made on 30 June 1864 in the USA by President Ibrahim Lincoln.

Purpose of national parks

The main purpose of the national park is to protect living and non-living life.

For example protection of plants, and preventing the plants from cutting and preventing the natural fauna from hunting.

What is the difference between a sanctuary and a national park?

Sanctuary is important for the protection of wildlife which includes microorganisms, birds, insects, and animals.

While national parks are famous for the protection of fauna, flora, landscape, and historical objects.

Names of first national park worldwide

The first national park in the world was Yellowstone national park which was built in 1872.

National park in Pakistan

In the world, there are about six thousand five hundred and fifty-five national parks are present and from these parks, 29 national parks are present in Pakistan.

And these parks are present in different areas of Pakistan and this park covers twenty-nine thousand, five hundred and eighty-six kilometers square. And these areas contribute three percent to the total space of the country.

Names of the first national park in Pakistan

The first national playground was built in 1972 and the name of this park is all Sahara national park.

Names of the largest national park in Pakistan

Greenland national playground was the largest national playground. It was present in Greenland. It was covering an area of nine lac seventy-two thousand kilometers square.

National parks in Pakistan

Twenty-nine national parks are present in Pakistan. The names of these parks are given below

National park of Margallah hill 

It is present in Islamabad and it was established in 1980 and it covers an area of fifty thousand eight hundred and eighty-three hector.

It consists of 3 main things Such as Margallah hills, Shakarparian sports, and cultural complex. It is very rich in evergreen plants.

National park of Hazaeganji-chiltan

It is present in Balochistan and it was built in 1980 it covers a space of fifty thousand and five hundred and fifty-five Hector.

The main purpose to build this national park is to protect the markhor and we all know that markhor is the national animal of Pakistan.

National Park of Hingol park

It was present in Balochistan and it was built in 1997 and it includes a space of six lac, nineteen thousand, and forty-three hector. It is the largest national playground in Pakistan

It is almost 190 kilometers from Karachi. Hingol national park is known to support at least 35 mammals species and 65 amphibians species and reptiles species and 185 birds species.

National Park of kirthar park 

It was established In Sindh and was built in 1974 and it includes a space of three lac eight thousand, seven hundred and thirty-three hector. It was situated in Kirthar Mountain near Karachi.

It was the second biggest national park present in Pakistan after Hingol National Park. It was established to protect the wild goat and sheep of Sindh.

National Park of Ayubia

It was present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it was established in 1984 and it covers an area of three thousand, one hundred and twenty-two hector.

This park is situated in Murree hills and it was surrounded by seven major villages and was also surrounded by three small towns the names of these towns are given below:

• Ayubia
• Nathiagali
• Khanspur

National Park of Chitral Gol

It was present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it was established in 1984 and it covers an area of seven thousand, seven hundred and seventy-five hector.

It was surrounded by Hindukush peaks and it was a habitat for wildlife birds and animals.

National Park of sheikh Badin

It was present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it was established in 1999 and it covers an area of fifteen thousand, five hundred and forty hectares.

It was built in the east of Pezu and it was present at an altitude of 1400 meters above sea level.

National park of Saiful Maluk

It was present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it was built in 2003 and it includes the area of twelve thousand, twenty-six hector.

It was situated in Kashan valley and it was centered upon alpine Saiful Maluk Lake. And this park was initiated in 2003.

National park of Lulosar Dodipat

It was present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it was built in 2003 and it includes the area of seventy-five thousand and fifty-eight hector. It was built in Kaghan valley It consists of 3 important things which are given below:

• Dudipatsar Lake
• Lulusar Lake
• Peaks

This park was initiated in 2003.

National park of Broghil  valley

It was present in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and it was established on 5 august 2010. And it covers an area of one lac, thirty-four thousand, seven hundred and forty-four hector.

It was present in the Chitral district of Pakhtunkhwa. It was present near the Pakistan-Afghanistan fringe.

National park of Khunjerab

It was present in Gilgit-Baltistan and it was built in 1975 and it covers the space of two lac, twenty-seven thousand, one hundred and forty-three hector. It was a higher altitude national park in the area of Gilgit-Balochistan of Pakistan.

It was considered one of the highest altitude parks in the world. It was the habitat of many endangered and extinct species such as Marco polo sheep, snow leopard, and Himalayan ibex.

This Pak was established by the prime minister of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. The temperature remains below the freezing point.

National park of Hunderab Shandor

It was present in Gilgit-Baltistan and was built in 1993 and it includes about area of one lac, sixty-five thousand hectors.

National park of Deosai

It was present in Gilgit-Baltistan and it was built in 1993 and it includes about area of here lac, sixty-three thousand, six hundred hectors. The meaning of Deosai is giant.

It was also known as the central Karakorum national park. This park protects the survival of Himalayan brown bears and t was also the habitat of Himalayan brown bears.

It was also the home of the Himalayans ibex, red fox. Golden marmot, grey wolf, snow leopard. Some birds are also present in this park the name of these birds are given below:

• Golden eagle
• Griffon vulture
• Peregrine falcon

National park of central Karakorum

It was present in Gilgit-Baltistan and it was built in 1993 and it includes about an area of nine lac, seventy-three thousand, eight hundred and forty-five hector.

This park extends to the world’s biggest glaciers outside the polar region.

National park of Qurumber

It was present in Gilgit-Baltistan and it was established on 2 august 2011 and it covers an area of seventy-four thousand hectares.

National park of Machhiara

It was established in 1996 and it covers an area of thirteen thousand, five hundred and thirty-two hector. It was present in Azad Kashmir.

It was situated in 34-31 North latitude and 73-37 E longitude. On its eastern sides river, Neelum, and Neelum valley are presented. And the closest city near it is Muzaffarabad.

National park od Ghamot

It was present in Azad Kashmir and it was built in 2004 and it includes about area of twenty-seven thousand, two hundred and seventy-one hector.

National park of Pir Lasoorha

It was present in Azad Kashmir and it was built in 2005 and it includes about one thousand five hundred and eighty hectares.

National park of Toly Peer

It was present in Azad Kashmir and it was built in2005 and it includes about the area of one thousand hectors.

National park of musk deer Gorez

It was present in AzK and it was built in 2007 and it includes about the area of fifty-two thousand, eight hundred and fifteen hectares.

National park of deva Vatala

It was present in Azad km and it was built in 2007 and it includes about two thousand, nine hundred and ninety –three hector.

National park of Poonch river Mahaseer

It was present in AZ Kashmir and it was built in 2011.

Nationl park of lal sohanra

It was present in Punjab and it was established in 1972 and covers fifty-one thousand, three hundred and sixty-eight hector. The government has decided to covert the lal Sohanra Park into a wildlife safari park of international standard.

Oldest national park of Pakistan. It was the first national park that was built in Pakistan. It was located in the Bahawalpur district.

The main purpose to establish this park is to protect the wildlife of the Cholistan desert. These different species are present and the numbers of these are given below:

• 302 species of plants
• 119 bird’s species
• 27 reptile’s species
• 3 amphibian’s species
• 23 freshwater fish species

National park of Chinji

It was present in Punjab and it was built in 1987 and it includes an area of six thousand and ninety-seven hector. It was present in district Chakwal.

The main purpose to build this park is to protect and preserve the Urails. This park is very important and interesting from a paleontology point of view because several fossils have been collected from here.

The kala and Chitta NP 

It is present in present and it was built in December 2008 and it includes an area of thirty-six thousand, nine hundred and sixty-five hector. It was present in the district attack.

National park of Murree Kotli Sattian-Kahuta

It is present in Punjab and it was established in September 2009.

National park of K2

It was present in the Gilgit District of Gilgit-Baltistan and it covers an area of five lac, seventy-six thousand, nine hundred and twelve hectors.

National park of Ayub

It was located in Rawalpindi. It was the smallest national park in Pakistan. It was established before the creation of Pakistan.

It covers an area of two thousand and three hundred hectares. It was also called tope Rakh Park. This park has an area, a lake with boating facilities, an aquarium, garden restaurants, and open-air theaters.

National Park of Shandoor Phander

It was present in Giza district of gilgatm Baltistan and it was built in 2012 and it covers an area of three thousand, three hundred and twelve hectares.

Purpose and objective of the national park

It was established for the Protection of biodiversity. It was also established for the study, recreation, and scientific purpose.

The establishment of a national playground ensures the protection of natural heritage, culture, and monuments.

Prohibited acts

To prevent national playgrounds following acts should be prohibited which are given below:

Hunting, shooting, trapping is prohibited. Guns firing is prohibited. Plants removal, destruction, and burning are prohibited.

For cultivation, the land clearing process is prohibited. Roads and railway lines process are prohibited. The water which is entered into the national playground is also prohibited.

National parks purposes

The national parks are built for entertainment, for research work, to prevent natural plants and animals.^[1]https://www.wildlife.org.pk/national-parks-in-pakistan/ ^[2]https://www.disenclose-pakistan.com/margalla-hills-national-park.html^[3]https://www.disenclose-pakistan.com/hazarganji-chiltan-national-park.html^[4]https://www.apricottours.pk/tours/chitral-gol-national-park-pakistan/ ^[5]https://fwf.punjab.gov.pk/Lal_suhanera_forest_park

Reviewed by:
Dr. Muhammad Tahir Ph.D. (PU)
Post Doctorate
American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA