Pabbi and Rasul Reserve Forest

Located within the Pothohar Plateau and the Salt Range foothills, the reserve lies roughly around 32°48′40″N 73°51′54″E / 32.811°N 73.865°E / 32.811; 73.865 near the Jhelum River corridor. The terrain consists of undulating hills, scrub-covered ridges, and interspersed grasslands and wetlands that sustain a variety of ecological zones.

The park's official centroid corresponds to the Pabbi Reserve Forest, with associated blocks of the Rasul Reserve Forest forming part of the same protected landscape.^[3][1]

The reserve forest is characterized by subtropical thorn scrub vegetation dominated by species such as Acacia nilotica, Prosopis juliflora, Ziziphus nummularia, and Dodonaea viscosa. The landscape supports a rich mosaic of grasslands, scrub woodlands, and wetlands, home to numerous wildlife species. Departmental overviews note the presence of various game birds (including partridges and quails), mammals, and reptiles typical of northern Punjab’s dry tropical ecosystems.^[4]

The Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department identifies Pabbi and Rasul as a priority site for biodiversity conservation and sustainable forestry management. The reserve undertakes:

• Breeding programmes for endangered and locally threatened species,
• Wildlife monitoring to track populations and prevent illegal hunting, and
• Educational initiatives to raise public awareness about the region’s ecological value.^[5]

These activities are coordinated under the Range Management Division, Chakwal, which oversees enforcement, restoration, and afforestation work within the national park's boundaries.

The park's establishment was formalised through two notifications:

• 30 September 2020: Initial declaration of Pabbi and Rasul Reserve Forests as a national park under the Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2020.^[6]
• 5 June 2023: Updated notification reaffirming the park’s protection and including GPS coordinates and a satellite map (Annex I) to delineate its boundaries.^[1]