ISLAMABAD: Though 60pc work on demarcation of the boundary of Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) has been completed, the exercise encountered issues in the area where the boundary runs along the un-acquired private land.

This was revealed in a meeting held at the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) headquarters on Wednesday.

An official source said the meeting was told that some areas like Shah Allah Ditta and Bhara Kahu, where the boundary of the national park runs along the un-acquired area, face issues.

The CDA’s Zone III comprises over 50,000 acres and out of it, around 30,000 was part of the national park. The remaining 20,000 acres are private land.

Meeting told two more months required to wind up work

Sources said that CDA Member Estate Afnan Alam, who was chairing the meeting, directed the officials concerned to resolve all issues for early completion of the exercise. Sources said during the meeting, it was stated that almost two months were still needed to complete the marking.

A CDA director said the meeting was told that 60pc of the demarcation had been completed and the remaining 40pc would be completed in the next two months.

The director said the two teams comprising officials of the Survey of Pakistan, revenue department, environment wing and Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) had been conducting field work for demarcation.

Last month, the CDA through Survey General of Pakistan started the exercise of demarcation and fixing boundary pillars. Work had been started following the directives of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The IHC in January last year had directed the CDA to demarcate the boundaries of the hills within 60 days. However, the civic body failed to comply with the high court order. Last month the CDA had started the process.

According to a copy of the IHC’s judgement, clause (viii) of the order stated, “The respective Secretaries of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Interior and the CDA chairman shall jointly conduct a survey and demarcate the un-acquired area of the notified National Park. The survey and demarcation shall be completed within 60 days from the date of this order.”

In January last year, the high court had directed civic agencies to seal the sprawling naval golf course located in the Margalla Hills National Park and ordered its demolition within four weeks unless an environmentally-friendly use can be found for it.

The IHC also rejected the military’s claim on over 8,000 acres of national park land and ordered the CDA to seal Monal Restaurant set up in the national park area. It also asked the defence ministry to ensure that the amount received as rent was deposited in the exchequer.

After building Monal, the CDA leased it out for 15 years which expired last year. However, a few years before the expiry of the lease, the lessee started paying rent to the military, which stated that the land where Monal was constructed belonged to them.

The dispute between the CDA and the restaurant emerged after the latter started paying rent to the General Headquarters (GHQ) as the Remount, Veterinary and Farms Directorate of Pakistan Army claimed the land on which the CDA had built Monal.

“The claim of Remount, Veterinary and Farms Directorate of Pakistan Army, regarding 8,068 acres of land in the notified national park area is in violation of the Ordinance of 1979, read with the Ordinance of 1960, and the [Islamabad] Master Plan,” the IHC had declared. Later on, Monal’s operator got a stay order in his favour from the Supreme Court.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2023