Pakistan has 36 national parks (Urdu: پاکستان کے نیشنل پارک). As of 2012, 25 of these are under supervision of respective provincial governments and remaining are in private care.[1] Only some of these are under the conservation scope of International Union for Conservation of Nature. Protection and conservation of the environment of Pakistan was included in the concurrent constitution of 1973. As a result, Environment Protection Ordinance was enacted in 1983, which was mainly regulated by the Environment and Urban Affairs Division. Later, a new system of 'Modern Protected Areas' legislation began at the provincial level which assigned the protected areas with designations such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and game reserves. Further recommendations of the national parks of the Indomalayan realm were highlighted in the IUCN review of 1986.[2] Nevertheless, the development of national parks was mainly carried out by National Conservation Strategy of 1992. Due to more awareness about their importance in conservation of biodiversity, 10 national parks have been established during the time period from 1993 to 2005.[1]

According to the 'Modern Protected Areas' legislation, 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. In order to promote public use, construction of roads and rest houses is permitted. Use of firearms, polluting water, cleaning of land for cultivation, destruction of wildlife is banned in these areas.[3]

The oldest national park is Lal Suhanra in Bahawalpur District, established in 1972.[4] It is also the only biosphere reserve of Pakistan. Lal Suhanra is the only national park established before the independence of the nation in August 1947. The main purpose of this area was to protect the wildlife of Cholistan Desert.[3] Central Karakoram in Gilgit-Baltistan is currently the largest national park in the country, spanning over a total approximate area of 1,390,100 hectares (3,435,011.9 acres). The smallest national park is the Ayubia, covering a total approximate area of 3,312 hectares (8,184.1 acres).

National Parks of Pakistan
Click on a 'mark' to open the respective article about the national park
Ayub National Park
1
Ayubia National Park
2
Broghil Valley National Park
3 valley
Central Karakoram National Park
4
Chinji National Park
5
Chitral Gol National Park
6
Deosai National Park
7
Deva Vatala National Park
8
Ghamot National Park
9
Gurez 'musk deer' National Park
10
Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park
11
Hingol National Park
12
K2 National Park
13
Kala Chitta National Park
14
Khunjerab National Park
15
Kirthar National Park
16
Lal Suhanra National Park
17
Lulusar-Dodipat National Park
18
Machiara National Park
19
Margalla Hills National Park
20
Murree-Kotli Sattian-Kahuta National Park
21
Pir Lasura National Park
22
Poonch River Mahaseer National Park
23
Qurumber National Park
24
Saiful Malook National Park
25
Shandur-Hundrup National Park
26
Sheikh Badin National Park
27
Toli Pir National Park
28
Click on a 'mark' to open the article of the respective national park
  1. Ayub
  2. Ayubia
  3. Broghil Valley
  4. Central Karakorum
  5. Chinji
  6. Chitral Gol
  7. Deosai
  8. Deva Vatala
  9. Ghamot
  10. Gurez
  11. Hazarganji-Chiltan
  12. Hingol
  13. K2
  14. Kala Chitta
  15. Khunjerab
  16. Kirthar
  17. Lal Suhanra
  18. Lulusar-Dudipatsar
  19. Machiara
  20. Margalla Hills
  21. Murree-Kotli Sattian-Kahuta
  22. Pir Lasura
  23. Poonch River Mahaseer
  24. Quramber
  25. Saiful Muluk
  26. Shandur-Hundrap
  27. Sheikh Badin
  28. Toli Pir
Region key
Islamabad Capital Territory
Azad Kashmir
Balochistan
Gilgit–Baltistan
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Punjab
Sindh


National parks

S.No National park Established Area District(s) Province Coordinates
1 Himalaya National Park 2020[5] 198,900 ha (491,493 acres)[6] Astore District Gilgit Baltistan 35°21′01″N 74°51′32″E / 35.350277777778°N 74.858888888889°E / 35.350277777778; 74.858888888889 (Himalaya National park)
2 Hundrap-Shandur National Park 1993[7] 3,312 ha (8,184 acres)[6] Gupis-Yasin Gilgit Baltistan 33°51′55″N 73°08′20″E / 33.865231°N 73.138768°E / 33.865231; 73.138768 (Shandure-Phander National Park)
3 Nanga Parbat National Park 2020[5] 1,611 ha (3,981 acres)[6] Astore District Gilgit Baltistan 35°21′01″N 74°51′32″E / 35.350277777778°N 74.858888888889°E / 35.350277777778; 74.858888888889 (Nanga National park)
4 Broghil Valley 2010[8] 134,744 ha (332,960 acres)[8] Chitral Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 36°50′28″N 73°20′09″E / 36.841164°N 73.335697°E / 36.841164; 73.335697 (Broghil Valley National Park)
5 Central Karakoram 1993[3] 1,390,100 ha (3,435,012 acres)[1] Hunza-Nagar and Shigar Gilgit Baltistan 36°53′52″N 75°05′37″E / 36.897708°N 75.093545°E / 36.897708; 75.093545 (Central Karakoram National Park)
6 Chinji 1987[3] 6,095 ha (15,061 acres)[1] Chakwal Punjab 33°00′37″N 72°29′31″E / 33.010242°N 72.491940°E / 33.010242; 72.491940 (Chinji National Park)
7 Chitral Gol 1984[3] 7,750 ha (19,151 acres)[1] Chitral Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 35°55′59″N 71°40′14″E / 35.933082°N 71.670693°E / 35.933082; 71.670693 (Chitral Gol National Park)
8 Deosai 1993[3] 358,400 ha (885,626 acres)[1] Skardu Gilgit Baltistan 34°58′21″N 75°23′47″E / 34.972626°N 75.396423°E / 34.972626; 75.396423 (Deosai National Park)
9 Deva Vatala 2009[4] 2,993 ha (7,396 acres)[9] Bhimber Azad Kashmir 32°53′33″N 74°18′11″E / 32.892583°N 74.303172°E / 32.892583; 74.303172 (Deva Vatala National Park)
10 Gumot 2004[10] 27,271 ha (67,388 acres)[9] Neelum Azad Kashmir 35°00′25″N 74°12′01″E / 35.006943°N 74.200287°E / 35.006943; 74.200287 (Gumot National Park)
11 Musk Deer National Park 2009[11] 52,815 ha (130,509 acres)[9] Neelum Azad Kashmir 34°43′53″N 74°47′12″E / 34.731456°N 74.786682°E / 34.731456; 74.786682 (Gurez National Park)
12 Hazarganji-Chiltan 1980[3] 15,555 ha (38,437 acres)[1] Quetta Balochistan 30°17′09″N 67°12′08″E / 30.285695°N 67.202298°E / 30.285695; 67.202298 (Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park)
13 Hingol 1988[3] 165,004 ha (407,734 acres)[1] Awaran, Gwadar
and Lasbela		 Balochistan 25°31′34″N 65°05′10″E / 25.526246°N 65.085996°E / 25.526246; 65.085996 (Hingol National Park)
14 K2
—
 233,468 ha (576,912 acres)[12] Gilgit, Skardu Gilgit Baltistan 35°47′17″N 76°10′58″E / 35.788171°N 76.182888°E / 35.788171; 76.182888 (K2 National Park)
15 Kala Chitta 2009[4] 36,965 ha (91,343 acres)[13] Attock Punjab 33°38′34″N 72°24′03″E / 33.642685°N 72.400824°E / 33.642685; 72.400824 (Kala Chitta National Park)
16 Khunjerab 1975[3] 226,913 ha (560,714 acres)[1] Hunza Gilgit Baltistan 36°30′03″N 75°38′37″E / 36.500805°N 75.643616°E / 36.500805; 75.643616 (Khunjerab National Park)
17 Kirthar 1974[3] 308,733 ha (762,896 acres)[1] Dadu Sindh 25°39′29″N 67°32′56″E / 25.658107°N 67.548975°E / 25.658107; 67.548975 (Kirthar National Park)
18 Lal Suhanra 1972[4] 87,426 ha (216,034 acres)[1] Bahawalpur Punjab 29°23′51″N 72°01′33″E / 29.397409°N 72.025811°E / 29.397409; 72.025811 (Lal Suhanra National Park)
19 Lulusar-Dudipatsar 2003[3] 30,375 ha (75,058 acres)[3] Mansehra Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 35°05′27″N 73°55′47″E / 35.090698°N 73.929749°E / 35.090698; 73.929749 (Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park)
20 Machiara 1996[3] 13,532 ha (33,438 acres)[9] Muzaffarabad Azad Kashmir 34°30′24″N 73°33′55″E / 34.506557°N 73.565140°E / 34.506557; 73.565140 (Machiara National Park)
21 Manglot National Park 1990[3] 710.628 ha (1,756 acres) Nowshera Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 36°06′N 73°14′E / 36.10°N 73.23°E / 36.10; 73.23 (Manglot National Park)
22 Margalla Hills 1980[3] 17,386 ha (42,962 acres)[1] Islamabad, Rawalpindi Punjab 33°45′16″N 72°57′23″E / 33.754317°N 72.956429°E / 33.754317; 72.956429 (Margalla Hills National Park)
23 Murree Kotli Sattian Kahuta National Park 2009[8] 57,581 ha (142,286 acres)[14] Rawalpindi Punjab 33°44′21″N 73°28′17″E / 33.739032°N 73.471344°E / 33.739032; 73.471344 (Murree Kotli Sattian Kahuta National Park)
24 Pir Lasura 2005[3] 5,625 ha (13,900 acres)[1] Kotli Azad Kashmir 33°38′21″N 73°50′48″E / 33.639204°N 73.846664°E / 33.639204; 73.846664 (Pir Lasura National Park)
25 Poonch River Mahaseer 2010[8] 4,500 ha (11,120 acres)[8] Kotli, Mirpur and
Poonch		 Azad Kashmir 33°33′19″N 73°54′58″E / 33.555272°N 73.91599°E / 33.555272; 73.91599 (Poonch River Mahaseer National Park)
26 Qurumber 2011[8] 74,000 ha (182,858 acres)[8] Ghizer Gilgit-Baltistan 36°51′47″N 73°46′52″E / 36.863141°N 73.781038°E / 36.863141; 73.781038 (Qurumber National Park)
27 Saiful Muluk 2003[3] 4,867 ha (12,027 acres)[3] Mansehra Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 34°52′51″N 73°41′54″E / 34.880862°N 73.698349°E / 34.880862; 73.698349 (Saiful Muluk National Park)
28 Sheikh Badin 1993[3] 15,540 ha (38,400 acres)[1] Dera Ismail Khan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 32°22′56″N 70°56′59″E / 32.382281°N 70.949707°E / 32.382281; 70.949707 (Sheikh Badin National Park)
29 Toli Pir 2005[3] 5,045 ha (12,466 acres)[1] Poonch Azad Kashmir 34°07′15″N 73°37′59″E / 34.12090°N 73.633118°E / 34.12090; 73.633118 (Toli Pir National Park)
30 Panjal Mastan National Park 2005[3] 5,045 ha (12,466 acres)[1] Bagh District Azad Kashmir 34°03′27″N 73°44′17″E / 34.0574°N 73.7381°E / 34.0574; 73.7381 (Panjal Mastan National Park)
31 Fairy Meadows National Park 1995[15] 10,000 ha (24,711 acres)[1] Diamer District Gilgit-Baltistan 35°21′01″N 74°51′32″E / 35.350277777778°N 74.858888888889°E / 35.350277777778; 74.858888888889 (Fairy Meadows National Park)
32 Salt Range National Park 2021[16] 13,700 ha (33,853 acres)[1] Chakwal District Punjab 32°49′56″N 72°36′54″E / 32.8322°N 72.6151°E / 32.8322; 72.6151 (Salt Range National Park)
33 Tilla Joggian National Park 2021[17] 8,840 ha (21,844 acres)[1] Jhelum District Punjab 32°56′33″N 73°43′33″E / 32.9425°N 73.7257°E / 32.9425; 73.7257 (Tilla Joggian National Park)
34 Koh-e-Sulaiman National Park 2021[18] 30,000 ha (74,132 acres)[1] Dera Ismail Khan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 32°00′00″N 70°17′45″E / 32.0000°N 70.2959°E / 32.0000; 70.2959 (Koh-e-Sulaiman National Park)
35 Ziarat National Park 2021[19] 21,450 ha (53,004 acres)[1] Ziarat Balochistan 30°23′38″N 67°43′01″E / 30.3939°N 67.7169°E / 30.3939; 67.7169 (Ziarat National Park)
36 Pabbi National Park Gujrat Punjab

Pictures

Wikimedia Commons has media related to National parks of Pakistan.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Review of 'Protected Areas System' in Pakistan: Present status and problems concerning future development (Page 8, 9, 15)" (PDF). dergiler.ankara.edu.tr. Ankara University. 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  2. ^ "Pakistan Protected Areas: Meeting Proceedings" (PDF). iucn.pk. IUCN, Pakistan. 1994. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "Country Report on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture – Pakistan" (PDF). parc.gov.pk. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 18, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d "Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, an international journal: Current issue (Number: 4, Volume: 2, June 2010) Online ISSN 1920-3853" (PDF). cjpas.net. SENRA Academic Publishers, Burnaby, British Columbia. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 16, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  5. ^ a b "PM inaugurates two national parks in Gilgit-Baltistan". Pakistan Today. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
  6. ^ a b c "Improving Sub-Watershed Management and Environmental Awareness in the Ayubia National Park". wwf.panda.org. WWF -Pakistan.
  7. ^ https://fwegb.gov.pk/handrap-national-park/
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "List of National Parks in Pakistan". pakwildlife.org. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2012.
  9. ^ a b c d "Protected areas of AJK". forest.ajk.gov.pk. Government of Azad and Jammu Kashmir. 2009. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  10. ^ "(Fourth national report) Biodiversity of Pakistan: Status trends and threats" (PDF). cbd.int. Convention on Biological Diversity, International. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  11. ^ "Musk Deer National Park, Guraiz (MDNPG) conflict: Who is responsible?". kashmirnewswatch.com. Kashmir News Watch. Archived from the original on April 15, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  12. ^ "National Parks in Pakistan". wdpa.org. World Database on protected Areas. Retrieved September 8, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^ "List of National Parks of Pakistan". pakwildlife.org. Archived from the original on December 31, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  14. ^ "National Assembly Secretariat - "Questions for oral answers and their replies"" (PDF). cybervision.com. April 20, 2011. p. 26. Retrieved December 7, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ Lawrence S. Hamilton (15 June 1995). "New Parks for Pakistan" (PDF). Mountain Protected Areas Update. International Union for Conservation of Nature. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  16. ^ Asghar, Hamid (2021-03-01). "Pakistan offers unique, diverse opportunities for tourism: Imran". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  17. ^ "Tilla Jogian gets 'national park' status". The Express Tribune. 2022-02-14. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  18. ^ "Koh-e-Sulaiman to emerge as Pakistan's first transboundary park". The Express Tribune. 2021-07-02. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
  19. ^ "Ziarat to be declared national park". The Express Tribune. 2021-08-26. Retrieved 2022-09-22.
Categories