Islamabad: Responding to the directives of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on July 30, 2019 with regard to the ban on the transfer of privately-owned land in Zone III, the Margalla Hills Society has requested the premier to reinstate the ban since the zone comprises environmentally sensitive and protected areas, a news source reported.
In a letter written to the PM, the society president Roedad Khan said that Zone III – which comprises Margallah Hills National Park, Kot Hathial, Shah Allah Ditta, Chontra, Saidpur, Malpur, Bhara Kahu, Kot Hathial, Sangjani and Bani Gala – was declared a national park in April, 1980. The national park is home to the indigenous flora and fauna of the Himalayas; acting as a sanctuary for the indigenous animal and bird population. This status prohibits any commercial activity or rise in human settlements in the area.
The Margalla Hills Society president said that the zone is already home to rest several houses, clubs and hotels; with many more constructional pursuits under development. These activities are resulting in the degeneration of biodiversity, scenic beauty and the natural habitat. The commercial activity has also disturbed the nightlife patterns of the national park’s animals.
Zone III spans 50,393 acres and 17,000 acres of this land comes under private ownership. After PM Khan had lifted the ban, the government had granted property transfer rights to the private owners. The rules prohibit the land owners from carrying out construction activities, besides placing restrictions on the CDA to acquire their land.
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