Kheri Murat National Park: Pakistan's Protected Scrub Forest Landscape on the Kala Chitta Range

Kheri Murat National Park is best known for its subtropical thorn scrub forest ecosystem on the Kala Chitta Range, representing a rare protected wilderness area in Punjab's intensively cultivated plains. The park provides habitat for the Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis), a subspecies of the urial sheep that inhabits the mountainous regions of northern Pakistan. The area also serves as a bird conservation site, supporting both resident and migratory species in its scrub-forest habitat. Its proximity to the M-1 motorway and Fateh Jang makes it one of the more accessible natural areas in the Attock region.

Kheri Murat National Park was officially declared on 30 September 2020 as part of Pakistan's expanded Protected Areas Initiative. The declaration followed a period of consideration for the Kheri Murat Reserve Forest, which had already been designated as a protected forest area managed by the Attock Forest Division. A follow-up notification was issued in 2023, further solidifying the legal status of the protected area.

The park's establishment coincided with Pakistan's broader environmental policy push in 2020, which included the Green Stimulus programme and the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami reforestation initiative. These programmes aimed to address environmental challenges including deforestation, climate change, and biodiversity loss while creating economic opportunities in conservation and ecosystem restoration. The selection of Kheri Murat for national park status reflected the area's ecological value as a remaining patch of natural scrub-forest in a heavily agricultural region.

The landscape of Kheri Murat National Park consists of rolling scrub-forest hills on the eastern margin of the Kala Chitta Range in Attock District. The terrain is characterized by undulating ridges and valleys covered with subtropical thorn forest vegetation. This semi-arid environment receives limited annual rainfall and experiences hot summer temperatures, creating conditions favor drought-adapted plant species.

The Kala Chitta Range itself comprises a series of low, rocky hills that rise from the Punjab plains, creating a distinctive topographical feature in an otherwise flat agricultural landscape. The forest cover within the park consists of thorn scrub vegetation typical of the Salt Range and Attock uplands, with scattered trees and dense shrub layers covering the hillsides. This terrain provides both ecological habitat and visual distinction from the surrounding cultivated plains.

Kheri Murat National Park lies within the Subtropical thorn scrub forest biome characteristic of the Salt Range and Attock uplands of Punjab. The vegetation consists of drought-resistant species adapted to the region's semi-arid climate, including thorny shrubs and small trees that form a dense, xerophytic forest community. Survey work in the broader Kheri Murat and Khaira Murat landscape has documented vegetation assemblages including Acacia nilotica, Prosopis juliflora, Dodonaea viscosa, Adhatoda vasica, and Olea ferruginea across different elevation zones within the area.

This scrub-forest ecosystem provides important ecological functions in a region where natural vegetation has been extensively cleared for agriculture. The park serves as a biodiversity reservoir, preserving native plant species and supporting food chains that depend on the forest habitat. The protected status helps maintain ecological connectivity in an otherwise fragmented agricultural landscape.

The wildlife of Kheri Murat National Park reflects the subtropical thorn scrub forest ecosystem of the Attock uplands. The park is notable for providing habitat for the Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis), a subspecies of the urial sheep that inhabits the mountainous and hilly regions of northern Pakistan. This wild sheep species represents an important conservation focus for the protected area.

Avifaunal surveys have documented both resident and migratory bird populations in and around the park, highlighting its significance for local bird diversity. The park's forest and shrub habitat supports various bird species throughout the year, with migratory species visiting during seasonal movements. Provincial environmental profiles also note poaching pressure on partridges in the landscape, indicating the presence of these game birds and the conservation challenges they face.

Kheri Murat National Park contributes to Pakistan's conservation network by protecting a representative example of the subtropical thorn scrub forest ecosystem in Punjab. The park's declaration in 2020 was part of a deliberate effort to expand protected area coverage in Punjab Province, where national parks remain limited compared to other provinces. The area provides habitat for the Punjab urial, a subspecies of conservation concern, and supports significant bird populations.

Management responsibility rests with the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department, which implements conservation measures and visitor management through the park's public pages and site resources. The protected area connects to Pakistan's national conservation programmes, including the Protected Areas Initiative and the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami programme, which aim to address habitat loss and promote ecological restoration across the country.

Kheri Murat National Park is situated in the Fateh Jang Tehsil of Attock District, an area with historical significance in the Punjab region. The park encompasses forest land previously designated as Kheri Murat Reserve Forest, reflecting a history of forest management in the area. The name Kheri Murat (also spelled Khaira Murat) appears to derive from local toponymy associated with the hill area. The park provides public access for nature recreation, offering marked trails and guided tours that allow visitors to experience the natural landscape of this edge-of-range area.

Kheri Murat National Park offers a distinctive scrub-forest wilderness experience in Punjab Province, where natural areas are otherwise rare due to extensive agriculture. The park protects the Punjab urial and provides habitat for diverse bird species, making it significant for both large mammal and avian conservation. Its location on the Kala Chitta Range creates scenic relief from the surrounding plains, while proximity to the M-1 motorway makes it accessible for day visits from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The park's recent establishment in 2020 reflects Pakistan's ongoing efforts to expand its protected areas network and preserve remaining natural habitats.

The best time to visit Kheri Murat National Park is during the cooler winter months from November through February, when temperatures are moderate and comfortable for outdoor exploration. Summer months (May through September) bring intense heat that can make trail hiking uncomfortable. The winter season also coincides with the period when migratory birds are present in the region, potentially enhancing birdwatching opportunities. Spring (March and April) offers pleasant weather though temperatures begin to rise, while the monsoon season (July and August) brings limited rainfall to the area.