“The flag will approximately cost Rs7 million as per initial estimates,” the official said. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
In times like these, when citizens of the federal capital like all else are facing shortage of basic facilities such as power and water, arrangements are in the offing to build a flag monument park along the Islamabad Highway --- the highest in South Asia if the capital’s civic agency’s claims are to be believed.
Approximately 220-foot (60.96 meters), Pakistan will have its tallest flagpole soon, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune on Friday.
Installation of the flagpole will be part of a larger plan named “Flag Monument Park” which also includes establishment of a history museum, a library and other similar facilities.
An official at the CDA finance wing, requesting not to be named, said initially an allocation of Rs50 million would be made for the project in the upcoming financial budget of the authority.
“The flag will approximately cost Rs7 million as per initial estimates,” the official added. He said it would be illuminated at night and visible from long distance.
CDA Member Administration Amer Ali Ahmad confirmed the development saying the monument park would showcase the rich history of Pakistan in general and of the federal capital in particular.
Ahmed said the idea was in the planning stage and selection of site was yet to be done. A site near Kachnar Park has been examined for the purpose but final selection would be made after due consultation, he added.
He said cost and other details of the project have yet to be worked out.
Inspired by National Flag Theme Park in India, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reportedly conceived this idea during his recent visit to New Delhi.
The capital’s civic managers are currently working on the plan and initial allocations have also been made for the purpose, said an official of the authority.
A median between the Islamabad Highway and Jaffar Khan Jamali Road at Sector H-8/4 has been examined for the purpose. The site is located meters away from the Kachnar Park.
The architecture department of the Planning and Design wing of the authority is currently designing the whole project which includes construction of concrete platform stretching over 500 square yards, installation of a steel pole and a flag measuring 60 feet by 40 feet, a planning wing official said.
Upon completion, the proposal including site selection would be submitted to the Prime Minister for his final approval, said the official.
It’s expected that Heavy Mechanical Complex, Taxila will be executing the project because of technicalities involved in the project.
“The CDA will be requiring high quality and specially manufactured material to prepare a 60-foot wide and 40-feet high flag to make it withstand severe weather conditions,” the official said.
He said the flag would be handled mechanically adding after flag installation rest of the project would be carried out.
It would be second facility of its kind in the city after National Monument near Shakarparian which was developed in 2006 with a cost of Rs700 million on the directions of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 21st, 2014.
COMMENTS (12)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Islamabad which was once lush green and was famous for its green belts and magnificent Margalla mountains is now turning into concrete. After massive commercial construction in Murree which has taken away its charm now the Metro Bus and similar projects have changed the local weather and disturbed the ecological system adversely. Instead what we need is extensive tree plantation.
Feed the IDPs first.
There are hungry and homeless people in America, England, Saudi Arabia and the whole world. But they still carry on developing. All things go side by side.
IDPs from war-torn areas need much needed assistance and govt is giving them nothing ...and here we are wasting resources on such projects ... May God give them some brain to think ...
You said 220 ft?? That all ? Compare it with the Indian Tri-Color hosted on moon and on the top of Everest many times. Why waste money ? Why can't you host it simply on the top of the tallest building or mountain in Pakistan ? Fly on PIA all the time. How about a flag pained on a balloon and tied to some land mark place in Pakistan? Be innovative.
What is the matter with you people, do you think that flying the highest flag will bring some kind of prestige or even better yet patriotism in the citizens. This is the most stupid idea who ever came up with, why do I have this suspicion that some one will be pocketing some hefty amount of this project into their bank accounts. The country is at war in Tribal Areas, killings of unarmed citizens in Lahore and thousands of Pakistanis are becoming internally displaced refugees and we are talking about building the highest flag pool, just pathetic. More over as I understand some of the Parks in Islamabad has been neglected for a long time that people feel unsafe there, one of them is built by Japanese. Could it be a ploy to divert the attention from 2 brothers who are ruling the country. It should be reminded to these people that patriotism does not come with flying flags highest or lowest, it the people how they feel and how they are treated by the ruling class. Please stop by making Pakistan a butt of jokes around the world.
Why copy others? Develop some other theme. As a respect a national flag is supposed to be raised at dawn and lowered at sunset, this could be a ceremonial event as done at Wagah border. on Pakistan side. Use your imagination CDA.
@Moiz Omar what about flag in deep space or Jupiter?
After a few weeks, it will be a tattered rag just like the one in Peshawar.
We should aim for the highest in the World.
That flag better be made of pure gold if it's going to cost Rs7mn!