Zubair Qureshi
The federal government has decided to identify all green areas in the federal capital and include them in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP). It has also been decided to overhaul and upgrade the Federal Capital’s lonely zoo that has been closed down recently on the orders of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) over pathetic conditions of the animals and birds there.
The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan at the PM office. During the meeting, the PM directed Adviser Ministry of Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) to take steps to end parking on the green belts and other areas of the city.
Surprisingly, Mayor of Islamabad, Sheikh Ansar Aziz was not invited to the meeting. The officials have been directed to submit a report on the issue within two weeks.
Earlier, during the meeting, Malik Amin Aslam briefed the prime minister about ongoing projects to protect the federal capital’s environment. The adviser on the occasion, said that projects include the establishment of a Botanical Garden, protection of the MHNP, beautification and landscaping of the federal capital, and upgrading the zoo. The prime minister stressed the need to maintain the natural beauty of the federal capital and the importance of preserving its environment.
He said that the encroachment mafia had destroyed the green areas of the federal capital, and directed Aslam to take every possible step for their protection. It was further decided in the meeting that all green areas of the city will be identified and include them in the national park.
According to PM Imran, the chaotic construction in the federal capital by past governments has caused problems in managing the city, besides causing huge damage to the green belts.
He said that with green belts across the city shrinking, it has harmed the environment of the federal capital and has, in turn, contributed to climate change.
The prime minister had earlier mentioned pollution and climate change as the major problems of the country which need urgent attention. He regretted that issues related to the administration of cities, including the federal capital which had expanded with an explosion of its population, had been ignored in the past. The steps will be taken in line with the vision of the prime minister to protect and project the green character of the federal capital. The project also includes upgradation of the Margalla Zoo, establishment of botanical garden and beautification of the federal capital.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) in a landmark decision recently had directed the Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad (MCI), Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Ministry of Climate Change to close down the Margazar Zoo and shift all the animals to animals’ sanctuaries as none of them had the capacity, nor the will to keep animals in friendly conditions.
