ISLAMABAD: The groundbreaking of the proposed cricket stadium is expected to take place in the coming days after the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the contractor settled a dispute over the bid rate, with the civic agency securing a rebate of Rs400 million.

The approach road from Margalla Road to the stadium site has also been completed.

Sources said a deadlock had developed between the CDA and the construction firm, as the civic agency had been seeking a rebate before the groundbreaking. The contractor argued that it had submitted its bid in March and that the prices of diesel, petrol and other items had since increased, leaving no justification for a rebate on the quoted rate.

The PC-I was estimated at Rs11.9 billion, and the joint venture of Habib-ZKB-EA had submitted the lowest bid of Rs8.9 billion. Sources said the two sides had now agreed on a rebate of Rs400 million.

“Yes, we got a Rs400 million rebate. This is a big achievement, and now the groundbreaking of the stadium project is a matter of days,” said CDA Member Environment Abdullah Khurram Niazi.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had also recently said during a media talk that the groundbreaking would take place within days.

CDA officials said the stadium would have three tiers, stand over 25 metres tall and accommodate more than 35,000 spectators. The first phase will include the construction of the stadium and around three kilometres of roads. In the second phase, the CDA will undertake landscaping, electrical work and ground preparations, including the construction of pitches.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials recently told Dawn they hoped the project would be fully completed and operational before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028, as the board wants to host some World Cup matches at the venue.

A CDA official said the groundbreaking of the stadium near Sector D-12 at the foothills of the Margalla Hills was expected within the current week.

“Now, both issues have been resolved. The approach road has been completed, and the rebate issue has also been settled. So, the groundbreaking will take place in the next few days, certainly this week,” the official said.

The selected site falls in Zone III, where construction activity is generally prohibited and local landowners are not allowed to build houses on their land. However, the CDA maintains that sports and recreational facilities are permissible in the area and that the cricket stadium qualifies as an allowed construction activity.

Previously, the PCB had started building a stadium at Shakarparian after receiving land from the CDA, but the project was abandoned following Supreme Court directions. This time, the CDA will construct the stadium itself.

Another site near Malpur in Zone I had also been considered, but the CDA ultimately selected the location near Sector D-12.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2026