ISLAMABAD: It seems that Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has finally made his first mistake of his current tenure.
According to the reports Nawaz Sharif’s plan of cutting through the Margalla Hills for the expansion of capital city Islamabad has drawn severe criticism and has been termed an ‘environmental disaster’.
According to govt record and sources “the project is currently at its initial stage, but if the federal government decides to implement it, Islamabad would be expanded beyond the Margalla Hills.”
The new part of the city will be connected through a tunnel.
After the proposed extension federal capital city of Pakistan will enter into Khyber Pukhtunkhwa area. As per media reports, the proposed project has three main components:
- The land available on the other side of Margalla Hills will be used for new residential sectors.
However, according to an official of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the federal government would have to talk to the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government as the area borders the provincial boundary.
- A new international airport will be built in Rawat which would be connected to the motorway.
- An 8 to 10 lane highway would be constructed on the lines of Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, connecting Rawat airport to the main city. Both sides of the road will be earmarked for high rise buildings.
It is worth mentioning that Behria Town, a known real estate developer of the country had, in the past, floated the idea of developing Islamabad Expressway on the model of the Sheikh Zayed Road.
Prime Minister Sharif has already asked the CDA to prepare the blueprints of the project.
Confirming conception of the project, the official spokesperson of CDA, Aasia Gul, said it was still at a very early stage.
Even the board of governors of the Pakistan Avenue Development Company (which the CDA has set up for this scheme) is yet to meet for the first time, she said.
She confirmed that the government had tasked the CDA to develop the project under which the capital will be expanded across the Margalla Hills and also towards Rawat.
“Since the project is in its planning stage, it’s difficult to explain its contours,” added Ms Gul.
On the other hand, opponents of the plan have already started criticising the project.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday criticised the federal government for “succumbing to the greed of developers” while completely ignoring the repercussions of the plan on the environment.
“This is the National Park’s conservation area and cannot be destroyed to accommodate the greed of developers,” Imran Khan said.
The PTI chief said, “We need to give priority to the preservation of our environment and must respect the environment preservation laws. This is our future generation’s legacy and we have a responsibility to preserve it.”
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription