Halt to Margalla Hills constructions sought

Environmental activists urge climate change ministry to take action

ISLAMABAD: Environmental experts, activists and civil society representatives urged the Supreme Court of Pakistan to extend its suo moto powers against construction of buildings in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP). All the environment unfriendly practices are being taken under the nose of Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC), while the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has no authority to stop the undue interventions and encroachment.

PM’s Advisor on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam should take lead in policy reforms leading to amendments in the legal framework for MHNP, speakers said at a webinar organised by Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) on “Management of Margalla Hills National Park - the future scenario” on Friday.

Hosted by the Devcom-Pakistan and DTN Director Munir Ahmed, the speakers of the webinar included Board Member of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Vaqar Zakria, Country Programme Manager UN Habitat Jawed Ali Khan, former DG Pak EPA Asif Shuja Khan, Biodiversity Exert  and Former Deputy Director General WWF Pakistan Dr Ejaz Ahmed, Environment Lawyer Ahmad Rafay Alam, Environmental Advocacy expert Mome Saleem, Dr Niofar Jamil and SDPI environmental expert Dr Imran Khallid. Some young environmentalists including Jamila Anam Rathore, Uzair Aftab, Sabah Iqbal, Aswa Waraich, Nadeem Aly also spoke on the occasion.

Vaqar Zakria said MHNP was being run on an ad hoc basis. “We don’t have any firm policy to run the park, and more unfortunate is the absence of a management plan.”

The scope of work for the IWMB is intense and elaborate but it has very limited authority and technical staff and even lesser financial resources.

Devcom-Pakistan Director Munir Ahmed urged the government to take swift action against construction mafia active in MHNP. He pointed out that the CDA, IMC and Pak EPA official were invited to the webinar but they deliberately skipped to avoid the citizens’ criticism of their inefficient performance.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2020.