ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior on Tuesday stated that a new park spreading over 1,000 kanals will be developed at the foothills of the Margalla Hills in Islamabad.

“The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at CDA Headquarters,” says a press release.

Sources said the proposed park will likely be set up near D-12 area, where CDA has a large piece of acquired land. In the same area, the proposed cricket stadium will also be constructed. The CDA has already earmarked 175 acres for the Olympic Village in the area, where proposed sports facilities will be developed.

The sources said as per the existing zoning regulations, CDA can establish the park and sports facilities, including a cricket stadium, but for allied facilities such as hotels, construction cannot be carried out without making amendments to the zoning regulations.

CDA chief visits Gandhara Citizen and Heritage Club in F-9 Park, directs that facility be made operational

“For this purpose, permission from the federal cabinet will be required and some months ago the then CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa had also moved a summary to the ministry of interior for onward submission to the cabinet,” said an official source.

“The area falls in zone-III and as per existing regulations of the CDA, private landlords are not allowed to construct houses on their own inherited land. So, when public is not allowed to construct small houses on their own land, how CDA can go for heavy construction of hotels etc., in Zone III. So, I think, the CDA management will have to go for an amendment to the zoning regulations,” the source said.

Meanwhile, in the press release, it was mentioned that the new park will be set up on 1,000 acres. However, when contacted by Dawn, an official source stated that it was a typo.

It is relevant to note here that the largest park of Islamabad – Fatima Jinnah Park - is spread over 650 acres, an entire F-9 sector.

The press release said ongoing and future development projects in the federal capital were reviewed in detail. During the meeting, the minister stated that Islamabad should be transformed into a model city where international standard facilities and recreational opportunities are available to the public. “It was decided that five-star hotels will be constructed under joint ventures with internationally reputed firms. Progress on a five-star hotel being developed in collaboration with EOBI was also reviewed. The Interior Minister directed officials to formulate a new zero-tax hotel policy to attract investors,” read the press release.

The meeting also decided that a comprehensive survey of all land and properties in Islamabad will be conducted through the Survey of Pakistan. The interior minister instructed that a dedicated marketing team be appointed for all future auctions to ensure maximum participation from investors.

It was further decided that a control room for Capital Emergency Services will be established within Safe City.

CDA Chairman and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Sohail Ashraf briefed the meeting on development projects.

“It was informed that all CDA data and transfer systems are being digitized. A digital dashboard will be introduced under a one-window operation in CDA. Unnecessary posts within CDA will also be abolished,” read the press release

Meanwhile, according to a statement issued by CDA, Mr Ashraf visited the Gandhara Citizen and Heritage Club in F-9 Park and inspected its various sections.

He was briefed about the heritage club.

“Chairman CDA expressed satisfaction over the renovation works of the Club building and directed that the club be made fully operational. He further said that the remaining renovation work required to make the club operational should be ensured for completion at the earliest.”

It is relevant to note that in 2021, the CDA board approved rules for this club. The facility was supposed to be used for conventions and exhibitions and would have a museum depicting Gandhara culture.

According to the proposal floated at the time, the centre will be opened to the public initially for a one-time/lifetime membership fee of Rs500,000. According to the CDA documents, Rs2.5 billion was expected to be generated from the initial lifetime membership of 5,000 patrons which will help recover CDA’s investment of Rs2 billion.

It was decided that the club would be opened to the public for a monthly subscription fee, but the members would need to deposit a one-time security deposit of Rs50,000. However, nothing has been implemented as the building still awaits visitors.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2026