ISLAMABAD – Islamabad’s Lake View Park has been one of the capital’s most popular leisure destinations, and CDA is preparing to give the site a major commercial and tourism makeover by auctioning 15 prime recreational sites while pushing ahead with international-standard Safari Park project for the city’s tourism ambitions.
The major decisions, approved in principle by CDA Board, speak of a major shift in the capital city’s strategy to generate revenue and transform its tourism landscape. The planned auction will cover 10 existing recreational sites whose leases expired in 2023, along with five newly created commercial locations in Lake View Park Phase II. Spread over nearly 104 acres, the land is expected to be leased through an open and competitive bidding process.
The proposal came before the CDA Board during its recent meeting, where members directed the Environment Wing to proceed with the auction while strictly following legal and procurement requirements. The board also instructed officials to consult the Legal Wing to ensure the entire process remains transparent and compliant with the rules.
The auction will be conducted under PPRA regulations, with market-based lease rates replacing the heavily discounted terms of the past. Successful bidders will receive leases for 15 years, with rents increasing by 10 percent after every three years. The agreements may also be extended for another five years under the prescribed policy.
Current operators, whose lease agreements expired nearly three years ago but continue to run their businesses, are likely to be given the right of first refusal, subject to legal clearance.
The fresh auction follows years of criticism over the authority’s 2007 leasing exercise, when the original recreational sites were allotted on terms widely questioned for offering exceptionally low rents on prime public land.
Under those agreements, leaseholders paid only Rs120,000 per acre annually, around Rs10,000 per month for each acre, despite commercial value of the location. They were also required to share five percent of their profits with the CDA, but officials say the authority earned little from the arrangement because several operators repeatedly reported business losses.
By introducing market-based pricing and competitive bidding, the CDA hopes to significantly increase revenue while ensuring greater transparency in the allocation of public land.
Alongside auction plan, CDA Board has also approved the hiring of an international consultant for the proposed Safari Park near Malpur, marking another key milestone in the capital’s efforts to establish a modern wildlife facility. The consultant will supervise the local consultant, scrutinise project designs and engineering plans, and ensure that every aspect of the Safari Park meets internationally recognised standards.
The expert will also develop guidelines for animal welfare, habitat enrichment, species management and husbandry, while providing technical oversight throughout construction. In addition, the consultant will independently review project drawings and advise the CDA on the long-term operation and management of the park.
Safari Park project comes years after Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo was shut down on the orders of the Islamabad High Court over concerns relating to mismanagement and the welfare of animals. Following the court’s directives, the zoo’s land and infrastructure were transferred to the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB).
CDA officials have consistently maintained that the court never prohibited the establishment of a wildlife facility in the capital. Instead, it called for any future zoo or animal park to be developed in accordance with internationally accepted standards of conservation and animal care.
The proposed Safari Park will offer visitors a drive-through wildlife experience designed around modern conservation principles. The project’s PC-I is nearing completion, and the CDA is expected to invite construction bids once the planning process is finalised.
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