As of 2023[update],Pakistan has 37national parks (Urdu:پاکستان کے نیشنل پارک) that are recognised byWorld Database on Protected Areas.[1] In 2012, 25 of these were under supervision of respectiveprovincial governments and remaining were in private care.[2] Only some of these are under the conservation scope ofInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).[3] Protection and conservation of the environment of Pakistan was included in the concurrentconstitution 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 theIndomalayan realm were highlighted in theIUCN review of 1986.[4] Nevertheless, the development of national parks was mainly carried out byNational 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.[2]
According to the 'Modern Protected Areas' legislation, a national park is a protected area set aside by thegovernment 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.[5]
The oldest national park isLal Suhanra inBahawalpur District, established in 1972.[6] Lal Suhanra is the only national park established before theindependence of the nation in August 1947. The main purpose of this area was to protect the wildlife ofCholistan Desert.[5]Central Karakoram inGilgit-Baltistan is currently the largest national park in the country, spanning over a total approximate area of1,390,100 hectares (3,435,011.9 acres). The smallest national park is theAyubia, covering a total approximate area of3,312 hectares (8,184.1 acres).
^abcd"Protected areas of AJK".forest.ajk.gov.pk. Government of Azad and Jammu Kashmir. 2009. Archived fromthe original on September 21, 2010. RetrievedSeptember 7, 2010.
^Lawrence S. Hamilton (15 June 1995)."New Parks for Pakistan"(PDF).Mountain Protected Areas Update. International Union for Conservation of Nature. p. 3. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 28 August 2013. Retrieved28 August 2013.
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