In a decisive move to protect the scenic and ecologically rich Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), the Capital Development Authority has launched a fencing project aimed at putting an end to illegal encroachments and land grabbing.
According to officials, the fencing will begin from the Taxila side and stretch all the way to the Murree boundary, effectively enclosing the national park and clearly separating it from adjacent private land in Zone III.
Clearing Up Decades-Long Confusion
A senior CDA official shared that the unclear boundaries between state-owned national park land and private properties have long been exploited by land grabbers and encroachers. “The ambiguity of the boundary always provides a chance to land grabbers. Once fenced, there will be no confusion,” the official stated.
The fencing will include boundary pillars and barbed wire fencing. The initiative will not only reinforce the legal limits of the MHNP but also help in protecting its flora and fauna, which are often disturbed due to illegal activity.
A Renewed Commitment from CDA
CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, along with other board members, recently visited the area near Taxila where the fencing will begin. He directed the engineering wing to immediately begin work and emphasized that the project will be completed in the shortest possible time.
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“Margalla Hills National Park is a signature beauty of Islamabad,” Randhawa said. “We are committed to protecting it. This time, with the support of the Ministry of Climate Change, we will see this through.”
Although the boundaries of MHNP were demarcated by the Survey of Pakistan in both 2008 and 2023, earlier attempts at fencing had stalled after initial efforts. However, this time, CDA officials insist that both boundary marking and fencing will proceed simultaneously to ensure momentum.
“We’re determined to finish this in a few months,” said a CDA board member.
Zone III Remains a Gray Area
While the fencing of MHNP is a positive step, Zone III continues to pose a challenge. Spanning over 50,000 acres, with 30,000 acres belonging to MHNP and the rest privately owned, the area remains underregulated.
“CDA neither acquires private land nor provides basic services like sewerage, roads and water,” said another official. “People are forced to build informally, and the whole area is starting to resemble a slum.”
Officials continue to argue that imposing a blanket ban on construction is not sustainable. Despite the ban on land transfers, buying and selling on stamp paper continues unchecked.
“There must be a solution—either acquire the land or introduce building regulations with basic amenities. People have the right to live with dignity,” the official added.