These two issues have been contested in the Lahore High Court regarding the outsourcing of Lahore Zoo and the hike in entrance fees.
The petition was filed by the Judicial Activism Panel, a public interest NGO registered through its chairman Azhar Siddique, wherein the petitioner claims the transfer of the zoo to a private company for Rs. 500 million.
The petition claimed that the contract includes management of entry fees and charges for attractions such as the fish aquarium, snake house, aviary, virtual reality rides, and parking management for the gates located on The Mall and Lawrence Road.
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The petition highlights that the Punjab Wildlife Department has declared the auction as successful in excess of Rs320 million reserve price by Rs. 180 million but goes on to say that it is not appropriate to completely outsource a public zoo, a significant recreation facility.
It states that only certain administrative functions should be outsourced, and even those would require careful attention to safeguard the public from unnecessary financial burden.
The filing contends that higher entry fees as well as additional charges have made it less accessible. It prays to declare outsourcing illegal, avoid signing to the advertisement of a contract and ensuring full transparency of the process as well as safeguarding public interest and fairness.