ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday gave the final touches to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a maiden cricket stadium in Islamabad.

A delegation of PCB officials visited the CDA headquarters and held a detailed meeting with CDA officials led by Chairman Noorul Amin Mengal. Both sides finalised a draft MoU, which will likely be signed next week.

The stadium will be constructed near D-12 in the foothills of Margalla. It is said that this stadium will be the largest in the country with over 50,000 seating capacity for spectators. According to the draft agreement, it was decided that PCB will complete the construction of the cricket stadium within five years. It was decided that CDA will allot 280 kanal for this stadium on a 99-year lease period.

A participant in the meeting said that it was decided that revenue generated from this facility will be divided between PCB and CDA on a 70:30 ratio.

Project also includes hotel in foothills of Margalla

When contacted, Chairman Noorul Amin Mengal claimed, “This is going to be one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world because of its proximity to Margalla Hills.” The draft MoU has been approved by the CDA’s law wing and the PCB officials will now share it with their law wing before moving forwards for final signing.

“In today’s meeting, we deliberated on several points. It was agreed that the PCB will get 70pc revenue while CDA will be given 30pc share. Similarly, it was also decided that after getting the allotment letter, the PCB will complete construction work within five years,” he said and added that a hotel and hostel for visiting players would also be constructed. Asked about the MoU signing ceremony, he said: “Very soon both parties will sign this agreement.”

It is relevant to note that the CDA and PCB in the past had started a project for the construction of a stadium in Shakarparian, however, it was scrapped by the Supreme Court.

In 1960, a Greek firm, Doxiadis Associates, prepared Islamabad’s master plan and declared 2,250 acres as a sports centre in Shakarparian. The boundary of the area touches Islamabad Highway in the north and Murree Road in the south and east. The government constructed the sports complex, a museum, Lok Virsa, a golf course and Islamabad Club in the area.

However, in 1979, through a notification, the government ended the independent status of the area and included it in the national park, which led to the scrapping of the said project.

However, this time round, the CDA selected a piece of land near Sector D-12. CDA officials said that the area falls in Zone III and according to master plan and zoning regulations 1992, the civic agency could construct sports and entertainment facilities in the said zone.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2023