Pakistan operates a national parks system overseen by provincial wildlife departments and the federal Ministry of Climate Change. The country designated its first national park in 1972. As of 2024, Pakistan administers 30 national parks covering approximately 10,000 square kilometers, roughly 1.3 percent of total land area. These protected areas span ecosystems ranging from alpine meadows above 4,000 meters to coastal mangroves at sea level. The Pakistan Wildlife Foundation, established in 1974, coordinates conservation policy across provinces, though enforcement capacity varies significantly by region.
Deosai National Park encompasses 3,000 square kilometers of alpine plateau in Gilgit-Baltistan at elevations between 3,500 and 5,200 meters. The park became a protected area in 1993 specifically to conserve Himalayan brown bear populations, which number approximately 40 to 50 individuals according to 2019 wildlife surveys conducted by the Snow Leopard Foundation Pakistan. The plateau remains under snow from November through May, closing all vehicular access via Skardu or Astore routes during winter months. The Bara Pani wetland complex within park boundaries provides critical breeding habitat for bar-headed geese and ruddy shelducks during summer months. Deosai features extensive Tibetan sand fox populations and supports marmot colonies that serve as prey base for predators. The park prohibited livestock grazing in 1998, though enforcement remains inconsistent along eastern boundaries. Visitors require a permit issued by Gilgit-Baltistan wildlife authorities, available at checkpoints near Sadpara village. The park contains no accommodation facilities; visitors camp at designated zones near Bara Pani or Kala Pani.
Khunjerab National Park covers 2,269 square kilometers along the Chinese border in northern Gilgit-Baltistan, with elevations from 3,000 to 7,469 meters. Established in 1975, the park functions as a transboundary protected area adjoining China's Taxkorgan Nature Reserve. The ecosystem supports snow leopard populations estimated at 15 to 20 individuals based on camera trap studies conducted between 2016 and 2020 by the Snow Leopard Trust. The park contains habitat for Marco Polo sheep, with herd counts ranging from 80 to 120 animals in recent surveys. Tibetan wild ass populations fluctuate between 35 and 50 individuals, concentrated in the Khunjerab River valley. The Karakoram Highway bisects the park for 42 kilometers between Dih and Khunjerab Pass at 4,693 meters. This road segment remains open May through November, weather permitting. The park permits no hunting or livestock grazing, though enforcement faces challenges from traditional pastoral communities who historically used summer pastures in upper valleys. Blue sheep inhabit rocky slopes above 3,800 meters throughout the park. Golden eagles and Himalayan griffon vultures nest on cliff faces in the Khunjerab gorge. The park headquarters operates from Sost, 50 kilometers south of the northern boundary.
Central Karakoram National Park, established in 1993, encompasses 10,557 square kilometers across Gilgit-Baltistan, making it Pakistan's largest protected area by total coverage. The park contains five peaks exceeding 7,500 meters, including K2 at 8,611 meters, Broad Peak at 8,051 meters, and Gasherbrum I at 8,080 meters. The boundaries enclose portions of the Baltoro Glacier, extending 63 kilometers in length, and the Biafo Glacier at 67 kilometers. Snow leopard density in this park reaches approximately one individual per 200 square kilometers based on 2018 scat analysis studies by the World Wildlife Fund Pakistan. The park supports Asiatic ibex populations estimated at 2,000 to 2,500 animals. Himalayan brown bears occupy lower elevation zones between 3,000 and 4,000 meters during summer feeding periods. The park permits mountaineering expeditions under permits issued by the Alpine Club of Pakistan and Gilgit-Baltistan tourism authorities. Trekking routes to K2 base camp and Concordia junction require permits obtained in Skardu, with mandatory registration at military checkpoints in Askole. The park contains no permanent settlements above Askole village at 3,040 meters. Vegetation remains sparse above 4,500 meters, limited to cushion plants and lichens adapted to extreme cold and aridity.
Hingol National Park covers 6,100 square kilometers along the Makran Coast in Balochistan, extending from the Arabian Sea inland through coastal ranges. Designated in 1988, the park represents Pakistan's largest coastal protected area. The ecosystem combines arid scrubland, mud volcanoes, and 20 kilometers of marine coastline. Sindh leopard populations, a subspecies adapted to arid conditions, number approximately 15 to 25 individuals based on pugmark surveys conducted in 2017 by the Balochistan Forest and Wildlife Department. The park supports Chinkara gazelle herds totaling 200 to 300 animals concentrated near seasonal watercourses. Urial populations range between 100 and 150 individuals in northern hill zones. The Hingol River flows through the park for 100 kilometers before entering the Arabian Sea, providing the only perennial water source during summer months. Mugger crocodiles inhabit pools along the Hingol River, with population estimates of 20 to 30 adults. The park contains the Hinglaj Mata Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site that attracts 10,000 to 15,000 visitors annually during the April Hinglaj Yatra. The Princess of Hope, a natural rock formation standing 35 meters high, marks a recognizable landmark 190 kilometers west of Karachi via the Makran Coastal Highway. The park prohibits hunting but permits fishing along coastal zones. Marine turtles, including green turtles and olive ridley turtles, nest along beaches between Kund Malir and Ormara from September through January. The park employs 15 rangers operating from headquarters in Aghor village.
Kirthar National Park encompasses 3,087 square kilometers in Sindh province across the Kirthar mountain range, with elevations from 300 to 2,150 meters at Zardak peak. The park gained protected status in 1974, making it one of Pakistan's earliest designated reserves. The ecosystem consists of subtropical dry scrubland with species including acacia, jujube, and wild olive at elevations below 1,500 meters. Sindh wild goat populations, estimated at 300 to 400 individuals in 2019 counts, concentrate in northern and central mountain zones. The park contains a wildlife breeding center at Sehwan, established in 1978, which maintains populations of blackbuck, chinkara, and urial for potential reintroduction programs. Leopard sightings occur irregularly, with population estimates between 5 and 10 individuals based on indirect evidence. The park recorded wolf sightings in western regions during 2015 surveys, though population numbers remain undetermined. Striped hyena populations persist at low densities throughout the park. The Ranikot Fort, spanning 32 kilometers in perimeter and often called the Great Wall of Sindh, lies within park boundaries. Construction dates for the fort remain debated, with estimates ranging from the Sassanid period through the 19th century during Talpur rule. The park permits access via unpaved roads from National Highway N-25, with entry points near Sann and Karchat. Summer temperatures exceed 45 degrees Celsius from May through August. Winter months from November through February provide optimal visiting conditions with temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius. The park employs 40 staff members, including rangers and guards, operating from headquarters at Karchat.