Karakoram-Pamir Biosphere Reserve likely to be established in June

ISLAMABAD: UNESCO has assured support for approval of the Karakoram-Pamir Biosphere Reserve in Gilgit Baltistan as the third Biosphere Reserve in Pakistan.

The project would be signed during the scheduled visit of the Director General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO to Pakistan in June 2014.

Pakistan has only two Biosphere Reserves. One is Lal Sohanra National Park located in Cholistan Desert which was approved by UNESCO in 1977 and also the Juniper forest of Ziarat, is believed to be the second largest juniper Forest of its kind in the world, which was approved in May, 2013.

“Pakistan had prepared requisite documents, including a management plan, for approval of the Karakoram-Pamir Biosphere Reserve in Gilgit Baltistan which would be the 3rd biosphere Reserve of the country”, official sources at Ministry of Science and Technology told APP.

“Government is also working for the Khirthar in Sindh province which would be the fourth Biosphere Reserves in the country, he added.

UN global development network has launched different programmes in Pakistan, especially the ongoing Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme led by Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) through Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF),he told.

Official further said the government is also focusing on issue of blind dolphin, endangered species living in Indus river, adding PSF is preparing project (PCc1) for the protection and preservation of this flagship symbol of world heritage. Courtesy: APP