Among the protected areas, Pakistan has 14 National Parks, 99 Wildlife Sanctuaries, and 96 Game Reserves. Kirthar National Park has the distinction of being the first park on the UN list of Protected areas. 16 areas are unclassified. The protected areas are spread over 9,170,121 hectares (10.40%) of land (GoP, IUCN, WWF 1998). The Lalsuhanra Park in Punjab is listed as a Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme and 9 wetlands in the country are protected under the International Convention on Wetlands.

The Hazarganji National Park in Balochistan is managed by the WWF and contains a population of the Chilton markhor, not found anywhere else. The administration of the protected areas is shared between the National Council for Conservation of Wildlife (est. 1974) and the Forest Department. Although the parks are accessible to the public, their scenery, flora and fauna are protected in its natural form. Hunting and other activity disturbing to the wildlife is prohibited within a 3-mile radius of the park. In the Game Reserves however, hunting is permitted under a regulated permit. (Environmental Profile of Pakistan 1998)