Lashari wala Forest


'''Lashari wala Forest is forest located near Taunsa Barrage, a Ramsar site in Punjab, Pakistan. The Taunsa Ramsar site is among 19 Ramsar sites in Pakistan. Taunsa Barrage was designated a Ramsar site on 22 March 1996. The western brink of Head Taunsa Barrage stretches around 5,000-km in Kot Adu Muzaffargarh District of South Punjab, Pakistan, about 90 km from Multan and 10 km from Kot Adu.

Flora and fauna

The forest includes plants indigenous to the Punjab region, such as: Dalbergia sissoo, Acacia nilotica, Morus alba, Bombax ceiba.
Additionally, 14 mammalian species can be found in the forest along with 50 bird species, six reptiles, two amphibians and 27 insect species. Aquatic species include Indus Dolphin, Smooth-coated Indian Otter, Marbled Teal and Pond Spotted Turtle.
The wetland is also an important breeding site for the Lesser Whistling Teal, RuddyCrake and Pheasant-tailed Jacana. The Bar-headed Goose, Ruddy Shellduck, Painted Snipe and Pallas Fishing Eagle are other important species found at this wetland. Other local bird species found are Black Partridge, Grey Partridge, Quail, Blue Bird, Jungle Pigeon, Sun Bird, Doves, House Sparrow, Warblers, Russian Sparrow, Crow, Owl,Parakeet and Crow pheasant. Other largemammal species of concern are Jackal, Cape Hare, Porcupine and Wild boar.

2021 Fire

There was large fire in the Forest in March 2021 due to illegal and political control over forest and wood theft from forest by political leaders of the area Rind and Hanjra family. They burned the forest in their strife Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf MPA Muhammad Ashraf Khan Rind and Malik Ghulam Qasim Hanjra. The fire had burnt large tracts of the forest, spread over more than 2500 acres, killing hundreds of birds and animals.

Tourist attraction

It is a popular tourist place of Muzaffargarh district and surrounding areas. People come on weekends to enjoy nature and natural habitat.