Can you tell how much you know and understand about Pakistan? Amidst terrorism, extremism, sectarianism, corruption, load-shedding, and inflation, there are few good references. Yet, if you can love Pakistan so much despite these negative aspects, the positive references will take that love to unimaginable heights, with no bounds.
For instance, Pakistan boasts the world’s most beautiful Kaghan Valley, the mysterious depth of Fairy Meadows, towering snow-covered peaks, daunting deserts, and lush green valleys. Have you seen all this? If not, we have attempted to bring forward Pakistan’s beautiful face, which has been overshadowed by negative media reports, through a series. We started with the snow-capped peaks, then reviewed the heavenly lakes and the Galyat region. Now, as the fourth instalment, we are showcasing the part of the country that is the backbone of the nation’s environment, i.e., the National Parks. There are a total of 28, most of which are under provincial governments. A visit to some of these will be an extraordinary experience for you.
Hingol National Park
Hingol National Park is the largest national park in Balochistan and Pakistan, covering an area of 619,000 acres. Located 190 kilometres from Karachi, it spans the districts of Gwadar, Lasbela, and Awaran in Balochistan. The park is named after the Hingol River flowing through the area and was designated a national park in 1988. Hingol National Park is distinguished by its four distinct ecological systems.
The park is divided into mountains, sand dunes, and river floodplains. The Hingol River creates an estuary before merging into the sea, providing a habitat for migratory waterfowl and marsh crocodiles.
The park is home to animals like ibex, urial, chinkara, foxes, jackals, and wolves. Bird species include partridges, grouse, houbara bustard, bustard, eagles, kites, ducks, and falcons. Reptiles such as marsh crocodiles, long lizards, thick-tongued lizards, vipers, and cobras, as well as various marine creatures, are also found here.
Kirthar National Park
Kirthar National Park is Pakistan’s second-largest national park and was the country’s first national park established in 1973. It spans over 358,000 acres and is located in the Kirthar mountain range in Sindh’s Jamshoro district and Karachi. The park is home to several rare and unique species including chinkara deer, wild sheep, urial, desert cats, wild rats, crocodiles, and various snakes. During winter, you can see flamingos, golden eagles, and many bird species.
Khunjerab National Park
When you hear the name Chitral, it evokes the image of a dream-like valley, and this national park is nestled within these heavenly vistas. Covering an area of 7,745 acres, it is home to snow leopards, black bears, markhors, urials, and foxes, along with other wildlife, living in their natural habitat, away from human reach.
HazarGanji Chiltan National Park
Located 20 kilometres southwest of Quetta, HazarGanji National Park is a beautifully scenic park covering 32,500 acres at elevations between 2021 and 3264 metres above sea level. Established in 1980 for wildlife conservation, the park showcases a natural mountainous environment. It includes the Chiltan and Hazar Ganji mountain ranges and features an excellent museum and recreational spots, making it a delightful destination for visitors.
Margalla Hills National Park
Islamabad’s Margalla Hills and surrounding areas have been designated as a national park. Shakarparian and Rawal Dam are also part of this park. The park serves as a sanctuary for leopards, monkeys, deer, mongooses, wild boars, and cobras. Beyond the famous Daman-e-Koh, a breeding area for rare birds has also been established.
Ayubia National Park
Located 26 kilometres from Murree, Ayubia National Park is named after former President Ayub Khan. The park was created by merging four different hill stations: Ghora Gali, Changla Gali, Khaira Gali, and Khanspur. In addition to picnic spots and scenic areas, the park features a chairlift, a unique recreational facility in Pakistan, offering a better means of exploring the area. Birds such as golden eagles, wild pigeons, and vultures, and animals like black bears, wild foxes, and leopards are found here.
Deosai National Park
One of the highest national parks in the world, Deosai National Park is a paradise for tourists. Covering over 35,000 acres, it is located 53 kilometres from Skardu. Established as a national park in 1993 to protect the Himalayan brown bear, this park is also home to snow leopards, urials, and various rare eagles. The park remains covered in snow for eight to nine months a year, and tourists can visit only from June to August. However, accommodation is not available here.
Panjal Mastan National Park
Located in the Bagh district of Azad Kashmir at an altitude of 8,500 feet above sea level, Panjal Mastan National Park covers 300 square kilometres. The park remains covered in snow from November to April and presents a unique view of flowers and various butterflies during spring.
Lal Suhanra National Park
Located 36 kilometres from Bahawalpur, this park spans 87,000 acres, with some areas covered by natural forests and others by the Cholistan Desert. The park’s lake, teeming with thousands of ducks, offers a stunning view. A zoo within the park houses several animals, while blackbucks, chinkaras, buzzards, marsh harriers, and other bird species are also found here.
Broghil Valley
Situated more than 250 kilometres from Chitral in Gilgit-Baltistan, Broghil Valley is known for its stunning natural scenery, snow-covered peaks, the magnificent Krumbhaar Lake, and over twenty small lakes. The valley is connected to the Wakhan Corridor through the Kan Khun Pass in the west.
Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park
Located in the eastern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Kaghan Valley attracts thousands of tourists with its natural resources, breathtaking scenery, and exhilarating lakes. Locals migrate to the mountains with their livestock during summer and return in winter. Established in 2003, Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park covers an area of over 30,000 acres in Mansehra district, aimed at preserving the area’s uniqueness and biological diversity.
Saif-ul-Malook National Park
Saif-ul-Malook, the most famous and beautiful lake in Mansehra district, was designated a national park in 2003. Known for its flowers, trees, and birds, the park covers 220,000 acres and is situated about 3,244 metres above sea level. The lake reflects the surrounding peaks, including Malika Parbat, enhancing its beauty, especially when viewed after a fourteen-kilometre journey from Naran to the lake, creating a magical feeling as if paradise has descended to earth.
