Islamabad to have 1,000-acre park at Margalla Hills foothills

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to develop a sprawling 1,000-acre public park at the foothills of the Margalla Hills in Islamabad to what it said enhance recreational facilities and attract investment,.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi at the Capital Development Authority headquarters, where ongoing and future development projects in the city were also reviewed.

The meeting was briefed that the planned park would provide modern leisure facilities to residents and improve the capital’s urban landscape.

Naqvi told the meeting the government intended to “transform Islamabad into a model city offering international-standard amenities and recreational opportunities.”

The meeting also approved a plan to develop five-star hotels in joint ventures with international firms, alongside a review of progress on a separate five-star hotel project in collaboration with the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution.

Naqvi directed authorities to formulate a new hotel policy offering zero-tax incentives to attract investors.

Separately, the meeting decided that a comprehensive survey of all land and properties in Islamabad would be conducted through the Survey of Pakistan, in a move aimed at improving land management and transparency.

Authorities were also instructed to appoint a dedicated marketing team for future auctions to ensure broader investor participation.

The meeting was told that a central control room for capital emergency services would be established within the Safe City Islamabad system.

CDA Chairman and Islamabad Chief Commissioner Sohail Ashraf briefed participants on progress in development initiatives, including plans to digitise all CDA data and transfer systems.

A digital dashboard under a one-window operation is also being introduced to streamline public services, while efforts are under way to eliminate redundant posts, he said.

CDA members and other officials attended the meeting.