The management of the Lahore zoo was officially taken up by the Ministry of Fauna after the private company awarded the operational contract withdrew from the agreement. All services, including entrance tickets and parking, are now managed directly by the zoo administration.
The private company had obtained the contract on January 1, 2025 for a total value of 500 million rupees. The agreement has covered services such as ticket office, parking and other visitors’ facilities.
However, the company left the contract after six months and sixteen days of operation. Sources say that the company is liable to pay more than 250 million rupees to the government in the context of contractual conditions, as well as the rule of contributions pending such as electricity bills.
Zoo officials have confirmed development, declaring that all operational responsibilities have been taken up by the management of the zoo.
According to the authorities, the private entrepreneur had asked the captive Wildlife Management Committee (CWMC) to authorize an increase in ticket prices and to group an additional paid installation (such as the Dinosaur Hall, Reptile House or Aquarium) at each entrance ticket.
The CWMC has rejected the proposal, by maintaining that additional financial charges should not be imposed on visitors.
The decision to keep the affordable recreational services aligned with the vision of the chief minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and the main minister Maryam Aurangzeb, who pleads for accessible and quality leisure facilities for the public.
It should be noted that after taking care of, the private company introduced group tickets that forced visitors to buy the entrance as well as access to an additional installation.
This provoked strong public criticisms and a response from the main minister Maryam Aurangzeb and the secretary to the Punjab at Forests & Wildlife, Mudassir Riaz Malik, who immediately led the practice.
According to sources, the private company has chosen to leave the agreement to prevent new financial losses and assured the authorities that all of the pending contributions are erased.
Thursday, the zoo administration officially resumed control and the CWMC today called an emergency meeting to decide on the future zoo management course.
