Margalla Viewpoint project ready to hit ground running

Islamabad : In partnership with the World Wildlife Fund Pakistan, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board has finalised plans for the Margalla Viewpoint, which will be accessible to the public at no cost.

The initiative will take place on land within the Margalla Hills National Park, according to the IWMB officials. They said that following the Supreme Court's orders, the large restaurants situated on the ridge had been dismantled, upholding a prior landmark judgement by the Islamabad High Court, which declared those establishments illegal and encroachments on the protected area of the National Park.

The officials said that Phase I of the project had commenced, focusing on greening the existing terraces with native trees and shrubs, as well as establishing parking areas for visitors to the Ridge. They said that the implementation committee has approved architects tasked with creating the master plan for the project, with Imrana Tiwana, a board member of IWMB, serving as the lead architect and offering her services pro bono. The officials also said that work had begun on the Margalla Hills Information and Conservation Centre, developed in close collaboration with WWF Pakistan, which would establish the centre for public use and also fund-raise for the ecological restoration of the ridge.

They added that in the second phase of the project, after the completion of the master plan and the Environmental Impact Assessment, further interventions would be made, including the development of viewpoints and picnic spots for public enjoyment. The IWMB officials said that the project was expected to be completed within a year and would be overseen by IWMB, with assistance from experts.