SWAT—The provincial government has fixed the Swat zoo budget at a mere Rs1,000 for the upcoming fiscal year. Newly released budget documents confirm the figure. The decision has sparked alarm over the welfare of hundreds of animals housed at the facility.
The Kanju Township zoo spans 93 kanals of land. It shelters hundreds of animals across various species.
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The Swat zoo budget shortfall stands in stark contrast to reality. The facility’s monthly feed contract alone costs Rs1.7 million. More than 100 zoo employees have already missed their salaries because of the funding gap.
The crisis is deepening. The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) has launched a recovery drive across Swat targeting unpaid electricity dues. Officials say PESCO could disconnect the zoo’s power meter after July 31 if it fails to clear outstanding bills.
The feed contractor has also raised a warning. He has formally notified zoo administration that he will supply animal feed only through the current month. He cited the absence of budgetary approval for further supply.
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Zoo officials have issued a stark warning of their own. They say hundreds of animals face a serious risk of death if food and water supplies stop. Such an outcome, they added, would generate international headlines. It would also embarrass both Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the world stage.
The situation has intensified scrutiny of provincial budget priorities. Critics are now questioning a troubling reality: a facility caring for hundreds of living animals received funding worth less than a single meal.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has not yet issued any official statement. It has not addressed the Swat zoo budget allocation. It has also not outlined any plans to prevent a potential crisis at the facility.
