The writer is a retired federal secretary and president of the Margalla Hill Society
On August 23, 2013, at a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Tunnel Project, which lay dormant all this time was resurrected with a bang. The prime minister informed the meeting, that “a tunnel through the Margalla Hills to link Islamabad with Haripur would provide a shorter route to commuters of Gilgit- Baltistan, Mansehra and Abbottabad”! The project is being implemented by the National Highways Authority and the Capital Development Authority (CDA), both of which have been directed to undertake all preliminary measures and work out details with record speed.
This bizarre and grotesque project is a menace to the ecology and environment of Islamabad and the region. It is inconsistent with the objectives of the Margalla Hill National Park (MHNP) and is in violation of the laws governing the MHNP. It was first imposed by General Musharraf on the CDA. The Margallah Hill Society (MHS) opposed the project and sought the intervention of the Supreme Court.
On March 29, 2012, when the case was taken up by the Supreme Court, Chaudhry Ramzan, Counsel for CDA, informed the court that the project had been deferred and was not being considered for the time being. The Court ordered that since the project had been abandoned for the time being, no further action was called for. We thought this would lay the project to rest permanently and felt confident that we had seen the back of it. How wrong one can be? The project has now been revived in the teeth of opposition from the citizens of Islamabad. We are back to square one, back to the starting point, once again, the threat of the tunnel looming large, like a dagger, over the MHNP.
Haripur is already connected by good roads to Islamabad via GT Road and the Motorway. Why dig a tunnel through the park? What emergency or dire necessity justifies this assault on the MHNP? The country has a long established system, where procedures are laid down for appraisal of projects and which specify bodies empowered to sanction major projects. The tunnel project does not appear to have been processed with the Planning Commission or sanctioned by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council or approved by any higher authority, including the Environment Division and the Environment Protection Agency.
The tunnel project is a direct assault on the MHNP and if not checked, construction will almost certainly begin straightaway, causing incalculable harm to the park and Islamabad. In view of the urgency of the matter, I have already sought the intervention of the honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan to remove the threat facing the MHNP, once and for all, in a final and conclusive manner so as to end uncertainty and public concern.
I appeal to all citizens of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, men and women, young and old, all environmentalists across the country, all those who love MHNP and last but not least, our independent and vibrant media to help the Margalla Hill Society in this regard.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (39)
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To the Sharif brothers, as a citizen of Pakistan and resident of Islamabad, I’d like to say this: I think you are doing good work for our country. You have a very difficult task at hand and I really appreciate all you are trying to do for us. Thank you. But at the same time, I grew up in Islamabad and I honestly believe that there is no city in the world quite so beautiful. When I see the silhouette of those Margalla hills, silhouettes that I know by heart, from an aeroplane, I know I am home. My city is my identity and looking at those hills every morning almost keeps me sane in a Pakistan which has become crazy. The Margalla Hills are our home, we have known them our whole lives. Please don’t take our home away from us.
First repair the existing roads, drainage system, hospitals, schools, then think of other mega projects. We handed over Gwadar port to China for lack of funds, how we got money for this tunnel.
In Many countries of the world, Tunnels connect cities and reduce distance, improve standards. We must not be part of stopping this project. Its just people who dont want any development. See Land prices in Islamabd just because people have to stay in same valley with burdon of population. Support the project.
some people can't just digest projects that benefit pakistanis... kalabagh dam or this...
@ModiFied: since when you bevame a fan of any one other than MODI? Obviously its a development project in pakistan you srem to be happy if stopped.
@ModiFied: Are you aware your hero was secretary interior when countless innocent civilians were being whipped, jailed and even hanged after mock summary trials under Zia? I think he was also secretary to Ishaq khan when he rigged elections through ISI. We all love giving sermons to others without looking into a mirror ourselves.
Do any of you people including the author himself has any idea at all of how modern civil engineering works? Its just a TUNNEL! Have you people actually seen the Margalla Hills?
This project will create jobs and housing for people! Plus most importantly it will save billions in travel costs. So please let Islamabad develop to its potential.
From what I have seen of him on TV, Roedad Khan sahib is an honest and straight forward man. But I believe he is wrong this time.
@Parvez Amin: This project will return its expenses in one year and in the long run it would save billions every year. The shortest distances between major cities saves fuel costs and time.
Time to buy land in village Khanpur ...NWFP.
The writer is just focused on MHNP which he represents, he should first visit haripur road, and then consider it in context of proposed economic corridor.
When mega projects are planned in this country, people call them embezzlement or kickbacks. In our political bias, Which national interest we are serving?
@confused: I was wondering as to how THAT name had not surfaced as yet.......well done.
Islamabad is a fantastic city and needs to modernize, expand, and grow. Look at how Cannes, Geneva and Barcelona have developed on mountains? What is wrong with a beautiful getting connected to the other side? It is going to create jobs and connect 2 cities. Issues concerning the country are not environmental related. They are more to do with lack of vision and leadership.
I am not surprised by PM of PMLN who like his past performance is only interested in mega projects of less important than what is good for the poor and economy....this money can be diverted for energy......for example.
"Haripur is already connected by good roads to Islamabad via GT Road and the Motorway". Clearly, shows how well informed you're when it comes to the road ways! No offense, but you should take a drive from Islamabad to Haripur and witness the miseries on your way! The famous silk road, the only way to Northern Areas and then to China is a single road (pathetically two way). I'm the resident of Abbottabad, and it takes me 2 hours from Hassanabdal to Abbottabad because of narrow road and huge traffic! If Govt. succeeds in pulling off this project, which I pray they should, it will bring a massive relief for the people of Haripur, Havelian and Abbottabad. And if with this project inhabitants of three cities can be benefited, who are you to impede on the name of petty park (MHNP)?
Being a former resident of Islamabad I must say Roedad Khan is absolutely right in his assertions. Whatever is left of Margalla Hills will be all ruined with such project. Please look at the geography. The distance on current GT Road route is 123km between Haripur and Islamabad, while with a tunnel at best it will be 100km. Nawaz Sharif is ignorant about the geography and failed to provide real reason for this tunnel. He should spend money to add a lane or make GT Road or motorway better, and should not spend 100s of millions of dollars in achieving a 20km advantage to Haripur.
Bureaucrats like Roedad Khan have held Pakistan to ransom since independence. If he is so sincere , can he explain why the Capital was shifted from Karachi ( Jinnah;s city ) to Islamabad by another Khansaman ( Ayub Khan ). Mercifully, he could not move the Arabian Sea to Islamabad as well.
Civil /Military bureaucrats and Judges have acted as feudals in usurping all prime land in Islamabad as end of service benefits to continue with their opulent lifestyles at the expense of the nation.
What Divine right to they have to make self serving laws in getting plots allotted to them in and around Islamabad ? Why does Roedad not file a petition in the SC to stop and nullify this wrong.of the shameless exclusive club ?
A bureaucrat will never change his stripes
Malik Riaz is back.
The environmental concern raised in the article is very legitimate, and there is also another issue at stake; that is the further expansion of Islamabad. If one meets those local Islamabadis that have sold off their land, you see they have gained naught from this city. Being backward and uneducated, they sold their land happily but now suffer. A similar fate awaits people of Haripur now, if they sell their land, they will see themselves become under-privelaged citizens, as wealthier people from elsewhere will come and settle in their areas. The aim of the state is to develop human rescources of communities, not acquire their land and leave them in the dark afterwards.
big projects mean big money mean big kickbacks
I am a civil engineer. It is possible to dig a tunnel underneath a nature reserve like MHNP without disturbing the ecology of the park above using TBMs. Technology has improved tremendously since mr. roedada khan's time.
First of all i make you clear Haripur is not connected through Motorway or a good GT road, the road condition is pathetic to travel on it. Either way you choose to go Northren areas, Khan Pur Road having ditches all the way to Haripur and after having a single journey on the road mostly old vehicles need to have check up and repairing work from the Mechanic and also tyres got damage because of sharp edges stones lying on the road, Hattar Road is very narrow and bumpy and because of industial state most of the time it is occupied by big trucks and than you have to run after them with 40-50 km/hr speed which brings frustration and you do try to go for wrong over takes and ends up with collision and we have seen number of accidents because of the same reason.The one which is left is via Hassan abdal that is very long route to travel on and that's why is not being used by most of the peoples. Lets wait for the feasibility report and if they can make it without any damage to environment than it will be a great opportunity for the Hazara people to travel in a respectable way and not only this it will bring opportunities for the people to grow and develop.
Haripur is NOT connected by good GT road and Motorway. GT Road does not go to Haripur nor there is anything called Motorway. The writer may like to take a trip to Mansehra via Hasanabdal - Haripur and see the condition of a narrow strip of road which takes 3 hours to travel for a distance of 80 km.
Being a businessman himself, Nawaz Sharif would sure have lot of friends in business circles but if he wants to do them favours, he should do so from his personal wealth instead of using state money, resources and assets for the purpose. A poor country like Pakistan which borrows money even to pay off its debts can hardly afford such grandiose projects, more so when they are not indispensable and additionally, will have disastrous effects on environment. Scarce resources make it all the more important to set priorities right.
Nawaz Sharif spent some years in Saudi Arabia but that does not entitle him to adopt royal attitude and just start ordering projects without following the laid-down procedures.
Karachi
@Romm: I also agree that the Margalla Hills National Park should be maintained as is but I think you do a disservice to the cause with talk of embezzlement. Those of us who oppose the project disagree with the nature of the project and the damage it will do to the environment of the Margallas. I do not for one minute think that the Sharifs are interested in embezzling funds through this mega project - in fact I support the Motorways they started and the Trade Corridor they have proposed but I believe that they do not appreciate the importance of the environment in their zeal to see Pakistan develop- much like the Chinese have paid little attention to the environment in their push for economic growth.
Author: I love environment and my vote is with you.
@Romm: You are right. Zardari did not believe in bothering with any sort of projects when engaging in similar activities.
Whats wrong with connecting Haripur to Islamabad with one more road or be tunnel sir?? I am with Mian ji on this project and I will say Envirmentalists and citizens of Islamabad Rawal pindi should worries on PR, PIA, public transport and food prices.
There is absolutely no justification for spending taxpayer's money on such a low priority project. The money is better spent on other needs. I will be happy to propose a almost cost free and transparent system to allow the awam to set priorities on projects administration thinks it should undertake. If this is ignored, one is forced to reach the conclusion that once again projects are being undertaken as often reported, for kickbacks. The bigger the project the more lucrative the kickbacks.
Writer's fear is not about environment, its about disturbance which vehicles and common people would cause in their precious sectors. The tunnel would cut short more than 40 KM ( I don't the correct figure but its more than 40KM) between Islamabad and Haripur and Abbottabad. Suppose minimum 10,000 vehicles use it every day, it would save them 400,000 KM of travel every day and 146,000,000 KM every year. It would save hundreds and thousands of gallons of fuel which is already being burnt on these hills every year. No environmentalist would stand with anti tunnel lobby.
Margalla Hills always gives security threat to Islamabad. Why not just get rid of them as we did in taxilla? We eat all the hills in taxilla and now many people among us are looking at margalla hills :)
Initially the area around Shah Allah Ditta was illegally being used for housing schemes while it was part of the Margalla hills national park , and now this project. It is a disgrace to be in a country where Money means everything. However, the citizens of Islamabad (atleast the ones that have been living here since 25+ years) should unite to stop this.
I am a great fan of Roedad Khan for many reasons. Foremost reason is; I love aggressive old healthy people and Roedad Khan is one of them. Second thing I love about his is that he is a man of heart more than of mind. Hope his appeal is supported by others and the tunnel is stopped. Love Khan Sahab. You are my hero.
Sir, this is a small example, but the construction on Doongi Ground in Lahore is going on against LHC court orders - there are also contempt of court hearings going on about it. But the construction goes on. I just suggest you create a media ruckus about it and dont let it die down to a few headlines off and on,
I say you sue the prime minister :P the media would love that.
All I have heard so far is that it will be a complete environmental disaster but nobody is telling why? It is a tunnel through the mountain not that they are moving the mountains. Just because there is a tree in the way you don't stop development. Cut a tree and add ten more around it. There were ages old natural fresh water streams in Islamabad which have been polluted with sewerage dumps. Did any environmentalist raised this issue? Each resident of Islamabad is polluting the environment every single day. As a capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad is a disappointment. Honestly its more of a town than a city. There hasn't been proper extension of the city. Hence property prices are ridiculously high. Eateries have been popping up in residential areas due to lack of commercial zones and prices. As long as there is no expansion of Islamabad owner of property here will stay happy. I am a resident of Islamabad since 1980. Please let this city progress.
my friend Nomi is of the view that "economic growth can sort out the problems of environment sooner or later. Today china is saying that it will work on a plan to reduce pollution in major cities. In early 19th century, London was filled with filth but as it started growing economically, the problems of sanitation, environment, pollution, were gradually sorted out" and i would agree with him - this baba ji (the writer) can have a good rest now after delivering Pakistan in a state what it is in now.
Sharifs unlike zardari believe in embezzlement of public money through mega projects.