ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) has decided to set up a model forestry park in Malpur area of Islamabad as the civic agency’s Development Working Party (DWP) will take up PC-1 of the project on Monday.

The CDA-DWP meeting was slated to be held on Thursday to take PC-1 of various development projects, but it was postponed till Monday.

Sources said that PC-1 worth approximately Rs110 million for model forestry park in Malpur was also on agenda.

The sources said that on the instruction of CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed, PC-1 of the proposed park had been prepared.

They said the park will be constructed on 350 acres in Malpur area.

“Purpose of this project is to provide a forestry park facility to people and also reduce chances of encroachment on the state land, which had been lying unused for decades,” said an official of the CDA.

He said a large number of chirpine, kachnar, amaltas and willow plants will be planted in the gated park while a nursery will also be set up.

“Overall we will plant 150,000 plants of various species in this park,” he said and added that a tube well will also be installed in the area for giving water to plants.

The official said that after approval of PC-1, the CDA will call tenders for construction of the said park. “Once PC-I is approved, we will immediately call tender to start construction work as management has been taking keen interest in this project,” he said and added that besides providing a park facility to people, this park will also be used for research purpose in forestry.

He said around 50 cameras will also be installed in the park for security of visitors and plants as well.

When contacted, director general environment Naveed Tareen said that the park will be first of its kind in Islamabad.

“The park will be a model forestry park,” he said and added on the direction of CDA chairman special attention was being paid to parks of the city for the last few months.

Earlier, the park directorate was part of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI). However, on the request of the then Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz on October 5, underperforming park directorate was also devolved to CDA.

“After taking over control of parks, so far we have restored a large numbers of parks while work is in progress in remaining ones,” the DG said.

He said CDA would improve all 235 parks of Islamabad.

“Our teams have completed trimming operations in most of the parks, while we are also going to call tenders for rehabilitation of those parks, where work repair work is needed,” he said. The DG said that besides the forestry park, the environment wing is also taking steps to make right of way of Srinagar Highway and Expressway more green and beautiful.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2020