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Proposal for more commercia activity on Margalla Hills opposed

By Muhammad Anis
May 21, 2017

Islamabad

The general public and planning wing of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) have strongly opposed a proposal from a senior official from inside the civic body to allow more food outlets at Daman-e-Koh (Margalla Hills).

“Provision of more commercial activity on Margalla Hills will invite public criticism and protest by the environmentalists,” an official of the planning wing wrote on file containing proposed plan for allowing more food outlets at Daman-e-Koh and road leading to Pir Sohawa said.

The official of the planning wing said the present proposal of sites of more food outlets would disturb the secured environment and natural habitat on Margalla Hills.

The planning wing has opined that the plan of opening food outlets by granting permission to multinational fast food companies at three points on Margalla Hills should be dropped. The proposal contains opening of food outlets by international companies include Pir Sohawa, Kalji and Jasmine Corner.

The official of the planning wing has said that the proposal for more sites for food outlets should be looked into as per provisions of the Margalla Hills National Park Management Plan (MHNP). The Margalla Hills National Park management plan categorically prohibits human activity on Margalla Hills whether it is in shape of traffic or any commercial activity.

The sources in CDA told ‘The News’ that some senior officials of the authority are still bent upon taking the proposal to the CDA Board.

In his noting on the file, the Director General Environment said the issue was discussed in office of the Member Environment who directed for placing the case before the CDA Board.

DG Environment had made an observation in the file that Director (Regional) Environment is authorised to allow such permissions on Margalla Hills.

Director General Environment Dr. Shaikh Suleman when contacted by ‘The News’ was careful talking about the issue. He said the proposal was yet to be sent the CDA Board for approval.

The official, however, declined to talk more on the issue saying the beauty and environment of the federal capital including the Margalla Hills would be taken care of.

The proposal was also rejected by Director (Regional) Environment Rana Tahir who looks after activities on Margalla Hills. The official termed the proposal as against Margalla Hills National Park management plan’s provision and detrimental to environment and natural habitat of the area.

Director (Regional) Rana Tahir who recently was transferred, had noted down that there was no provision of more food outlets as two hotels and sufficient number of kiosks and restaurants already existed there. “The construction activity in shape of more food outlets will also increasing encroachment activity at Margalla Hills,” he said.

He also proposed that the case should be presented to the Islamabad Mayor before it is placed before the Local Government Council.

It may be pointed out here that the CDA has already made provisions of Margalla Hills Management Plan by constructing a metal road, allowing two hotels where wedding ceremonies and parties are also organised and a number of small restaurants and kiosks.

The CDA officials are also facing inquiries for allowing two hotels during tenure of the then chairman Kamran Lashari. “The permission to allow more commercial activities on Maralla Hills will be set case for NAB and FIA,” an official of CDA while requesting not to be named said.

The residents of Islamabad particularly the old dwellers while rejecting the new plan have said the permission for fast food outlets would play havoc with environment and wildlife on Margalla Hills.

Ahmad Qureshi, a resident of Sector F-6/1 said the civic body should not force us to take to streets and start protests against them. “Instead of wasting time on such projects, the CDA should focus on meeting water shortage in Islamabad,” he said.