ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Wednesday opposed a proposed park project that the government plans to set up at the foothills of the Margalla Hills on 1,000 kanal.

A press release issued by the Interior Ministry stated that a new park would be established at the foothills of the Margallas. According to the press release, the decision to develop the park was made in a meeting on CDA issues chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

Reacting to the proposal, General Secretary PPP Human Rights Cell Malaika Raza issued a statement and strongly opposed the plan.

“The proposed Margalla Park plan amounts to ecological terrorism, an assault on Islamabad’s geography, environment and social fabric with long-term repercussions,” she said.

Pakistan is already facing a climate crisis. Islamabad, once celebrated as one of the most beautiful capitals in the world due to its greenery and hills, is under urgent threat as tree felling accelerates and natural beauty erodes, she added.

“More than 29,000 trees have already been destroyed by government actions, and new development plans are being pushed forward without meaningful consent from locals,” she said, adding that the Margalla Hills, part of a national park and the green heart of Islamabad, are a protected zone that continues to come under pressure for hotels and other projects as construction and tree-cutting intensify.

The Margalla Hills are a forest, not a mere park to be reimagined for profit Ms Raza said. Displacement has already affected Saidpur, and wildlife habitats are being endangered, threatening both people and animals. The proposed Margalla Park plan amounts to ecological terrorism, she added.

The PPP leader further said that unchecked deforestation replaces forests with concrete and increases climate risks such as floods, heatwaves and droughts. “Global examples like Amazon deforestation, alongside local incidents in Swat and Murree where tree felling has been linked to landslides and floods, illustrate the human cost and loss of life associated with such development.

“Islamabad is already overburdened, transitioning from a city designed for hundreds of thousands to one hosting millions, with rising pollution and strain on public services,” she said.

Malaika Raza said the Margalla Hills act as a protective shield, regulating temperature, sustaining groundwater and supporting essential ecological services that communities rely on. She said that destroying them would directly erode living conditions and climate resilience for Islamabad’s residents. The ecological and social costs of prioritising short-term profit over long-term ecological health and community well-being far outweigh any economic gains from new urban development, she said.

“We, at the PPP Human Rights Cell, stand firm in defence of the Margalla Hills and the broader ecological integrity of Islamabad. We call for a halt to any development plans that undermine ecological health, climate stability and community resilience. Our position is clear: protect the Margalla Hills, respect the rights and voices of local communities, and pursue development paths that are sustainable, transparent and equitable.”

The PPP leader further said that the survival of Islamabad’s green heritage, the health of its people and the welfare of its wildlife depend “on our collective commitment to responsible governance and ecological justice.”

It is pertinent to note that the CDA plans to develop the proposed park near the D-12 area on its acquired land, where a cricket stadium is also proposed. Similarly, the CDA intends to set up hotels and other commercial components as part of the stadium project in the area, as it has already earmarked 175 acres for an Olympic Village.

This area falls in Zone III, where, according to sources in the CDA, sports and recreational facilities and parks can be developed, but hotels and commercial projects cannot be launched, as even locals are not allowed to construct houses on their private land.

Some months ago, then CDA chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa had moved a summary to the Ministry of Interior for onward submission to the federal cabinet to seek permission for hotel and other commercial components of the cricket stadium in Zone III.

Locals of nearby villages have been stating that they should also be allowed to construct houses on their inherited land. “Why is the CDA pushing the case for its commercial project in Zone III, and why are they not allowing us to construct houses on our private land? There should be a uniform policy for all,” said a resident of Shah Allah Ditta.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026