Ayub National Park

Ayub National Park, commonly called Ayub Park, is a major public recreation destination in Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. It occupies approximately 313 acres, or about 127 hectares, on the Grand Trunk Road near the former presidency area. The park serves the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area and combines open green space with sports facilities, family attractions, wildlife exhibits, hospitality facilities, and event-oriented amenities. It is widely described as one of the largest parks in the metropolitan region and has sometimes been characterized as among the largest parks in Asia, although that broader comparison is not independently established here. The site originated during the British Raj as Topi Rakh Park. The name refers to the area’s earlier character as a reserve or protected tract in the Potwari language. It was used as a picnic and public-gathering location before Pakistan’s independence. In 1959, during the presidency of Field Marshal Ayub Khan, the site was converted into a national park and received the name it carries today. The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board was assigned administrative responsibility. The park’s open-air theatre became an important venue for cultural and social gatherings and was described as the only open-air theatre in the then-capital Rawalpindi. Over subsequent decades, the park experienced neglect and by the early 1990s had reportedly declined close to disuse. A major institutional change occurred in 2001, when President Pervez Musharraf transferred control to the Army Heritage Foundation. Development under the foundation introduced or improved lawns, children’s play areas, jogging tracks, and other visitor facilities. Later projects expanded the park’s role beyond a conventional green space. The southern portion was developed as a cricket facility, while Jungle World established an animal-themed amusement area and zoo. Former military barracks within the grounds were converted into rentable overnight accommodation known as Jungle Barracks. Sports infrastructure has become a prominent part of the park’s identity. A floodlit cricket ground and practice nets were developed in 2014 on land that had previously been covered by mud and wild growth. The facility became a venue for Ramadan night tournaments, attracting local clubs and large numbers of players. It also hosted matches in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Under-16 National One-Day Tournament in 2021. An AstroTurf hockey ground was inaugurated in January 2022; the facility was developed by the Army Heritage Foundation with Mari Petroleum. The park’s family and attraction offer expanded further on 16 November 2021, when a Miracle Garden, a waste-recycling plant, and a chairlift were inaugurated. Jungle World also became a repository for animals transferred from Islamabad Zoo after that zoo closed in 2020 because of inadequate facilities. Reported transfers included wolves, black bulls, blue bulls, urials, rabbits, and monkeys. By 2022, Jungle World was reported to contain approximately 130 animal species and more than 200 birds. Ayub National Park is therefore best understood not as a conventional commercial brand but as a publicly oriented destination whose identity is built around leisure, heritage, outdoor recreation, sports, family entertainment, and animal attractions. Its audience is primarily local and regional visitors from Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and surrounding parts of Punjab. The park’s administration, facilities, and ownership structure are not fully documented in the supplied sources, so those fields remain limited here.

Ayub National Park developed from Topi Rakh Park, a picnic and public recreation site established during the British Raj in the Rawalpindi area. The name Topi Rakh refers to the site’s earlier character as a reserve or protected tract in the Potwari language. The location lies on the Grand Trunk Road, near the former presidency area, and its position helped make it an accessible open space for residents and visitors. In 1959, during the rule of President Field Marshal Ayub Khan, the site was converted into a national park and renamed Ayub National Park. The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board was given responsibility for its administration. During its earlier period as a civic and cultural venue, the park’s open-air theatre hosted major social and cultural gatherings. It was described as the only open-air theatre in the then-capital Rawalpindi, giving the park a role that extended beyond informal picnicking. The park subsequently suffered from prolonged neglect. By the early 1990s, it had reportedly deteriorated to the point that it was close to falling out of regular use. In 2001, President Pervez Musharraf transferred control of the park to the Army Heritage Foundation. Development work under the foundation introduced or upgraded lawns, play areas, jogging tracks, and other visitor-oriented infrastructure, helping reposition the site as a managed leisure destination. The later development program added specialized attractions and sports facilities. In 2014, the southern side of the park was transformed into a cricket facility with a floodlit ground and practice nets. The venue became particularly active during Ramadan, when night tournaments attracted numerous clubs and large numbers of players. It also entered formal youth cricket programming by hosting fixtures in the Pakistan Cricket Board Under-16 National One-Day Tournament in 2021. The park’s Jungle World complex added an animal-themed amusement park and zoo. In September 2020, animals from Islamabad Zoo were moved to Jungle World after Islamabad Zoo was closed because of inadequate facilities. Reported transfers included wolves, black bulls, blue bulls, urials, rabbits, and monkeys. By 2022, the zoo was reported to hold around 130 species of animals and more than 200 birds. The grounds also contain former barracks converted into rentable overnight accommodation under the name Jungle Barracks. On 16 November 2021, a Miracle Garden, a waste-recycling plant, and a chairlift were inaugurated. These additions broadened the park’s offer to include themed horticultural display, an environmental-management facility, and an aerial visitor attraction. On 21 January 2022, an AstroTurf hockey ground was inaugurated, developed by the Army Heritage Foundation with Mari Petroleum. Together, these projects reinforced Ayub National Park’s position as a multipurpose urban destination combining green space, family entertainment, sport, wildlife, and public events. The park covers approximately 313 acres, equivalent to about 127 hectares. It is regarded as one of the principal recreational assets of the Islamabad–Rawalpindi metropolitan area. Although some descriptions call it one of Asia’s largest parks, the supplied sources do not establish a standardized basis for that comparison. The park’s exact ownership, current governance arrangements, executive leadership, and financial position are not specified in the available reference material.

• 2022

  AstroTurf hockey ground opened

  [1]Ayub National Parken.wikipedia.org

  An AstroTurf hockey ground was inaugurated on 21 January, developed by the Army Heritage Foundation and Mari Petroleum.

• 2021

  Miracle Garden and other facilities inaugurated

  [1]Ayub National Parken.wikipedia.org

  A Miracle Garden, waste-recycling plant, and chairlift were inaugurated on 16 November.

• 2020

  Islamabad Zoo animals relocated to Jungle World

  [1]Ayub National Parken.wikipedia.org

  Animals were transferred from Islamabad Zoo to Jungle World after the Islamabad facility closed because of inadequate facilities.

• 2014

  Cricket facility developed

  [1]Ayub National Parken.wikipedia.org

  The southern side of the park was developed into a floodlit cricket ground with practice nets, creating a venue for local tournaments and organized youth cricket.

• 2001

  Control transferred to the Army Heritage Foundation

  [1]Ayub National Parken.wikipedia.org

  Control of the park was transferred to the Army Heritage Foundation, which oversaw extensive improvement and redevelopment work.

• 1959

  Conversion into a national park

  [1]Ayub National Parken.wikipedia.org

  Topi Rakh Park was converted into a national park during the rule of President Ayub Khan and took the name Ayub National Park. The Rawalpindi Cantonment Board was assigned administrative responsibility.

A large, accessible urban recreation destination combining public green space, family entertainment, wildlife, sports, heritage-oriented attractions, and event facilities.

• Theme park and zoo

  Jungle World

  Jungle World is the park’s animal-themed amusement and wildlife complex. It includes a zoo and family-oriented attractions. Animals transferred from Islamabad Zoo in 2020 became part of its collection, and by 2022 the facility was reported to house approximately 130 animal species and more than 200 birds.

• Sports facility · 2014

  Cricket ground and practice nets

  Developed on the southern side of the park in 2014, the cricket complex includes a floodlit ground and practice nets. It became a venue for Ramadan night tournaments involving local clubs and later hosted matches in the Pakistan Cricket Board Under-16 National One-Day Tournament.

• Sports facility · 2022

  AstroTurf hockey ground

  The AstroTurf hockey ground provides a dedicated field-sports facility within the park. It was inaugurated in January 2022 and developed by the Army Heritage Foundation with Mari Petroleum.

• Horticultural attraction · 2021

  Miracle Garden

  Miracle Garden is a themed garden attraction inaugurated at Ayub National Park in November 2021. It forms part of the park’s broader family-leisure and landscaped-recreation offer.

• Short-stay accommodation

  Jungle Barracks

  Jungle Barracks consists of former barracks converted into accommodation units that visitors can rent for overnight stays within the park.

• 2022

  Opening of an AstroTurf hockey groundProduct launch

  Background

  Ayub National Park had increasingly developed as a multipurpose recreational and sports venue.

  Action taken

  An AstroTurf hockey ground was inaugurated on 21 January 2022 through development by the Army Heritage Foundation and Mari Petroleum.

  Aftermath

  The project added a dedicated hockey facility to the park’s existing cricket and general recreation infrastructure.

  Source

• 2021

  Expansion with Miracle Garden, recycling plant, and chairliftProduct launch

  Background

  The park’s redevelopment program sought to broaden its mix of leisure and visitor facilities.

  Action taken

  A Miracle Garden, waste-recycling plant, and chairlift were inaugurated on 16 November 2021.

  Aftermath

  The additions expanded the park’s attractions beyond lawns, sports, and the zoo to include themed horticulture, environmental infrastructure, and an aerial ride.

  Source

• 2014

  Development of a dedicated cricket facilityProduct launch

  Background

  The southern side of the park had previously been described as undeveloped land covered by mud and wild growth.

  Action taken

  A floodlit cricket ground and practice nets were established.

  Aftermath

  The ground became a venue for Ramadan night tournaments and later hosted organized youth cricket matches.

  Source

• 2001

  Redevelopment under the Army Heritage FoundationStrategy

  Background

  The park had experienced prolonged neglect and was reportedly close to disuse by the early 1990s.

  Action taken

  Control was transferred to the Army Heritage Foundation, which undertook extensive development work including play areas, jogging tracks, and lawns.

  Aftermath

  The park was repositioned as a more developed, multipurpose leisure destination, although the supplied sources do not provide financial or visitor-impact measures.

  Source

1. 1Ayub National Parken.wikipedia.org
2. 2Ayub National Park official websiteayubpark.com