The federal government has decided to shut down Monal restaurant, the scenic eatery in the heart of the Margalla Hills National Park, as environmental laws proscribe construction and business activities in national parks, according to Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul.
Gul revealed this during an interview with Urdu News, adding that the government will not only oppose construction in national parks but will also demolish the existing infrastructure to restore their biodiversity.
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She lamented that businesses in national parks are earning in millions but aren’t directing enough funds under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agreement for the preservation and restoration of these areas. Instead, businesses operating in the national parks try to expand illegally whenever they find an opportunity to do so.
For instance, earlier in May, Islamabad’s District Administration sealed the Monal restaurant after its management started chopping down trees surrounding the eatery in an attempt to expand surreptitiously.
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Gul said that the Federal government has is focused on preserving the 15 national parks across Pakistan along with completing the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami project to increase the forest cover of the country.
She added that Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) government’s 10 Billion Tree Tsunami project has received global recognition.
So far, 322.4 million trees have been planted under the project that has helped in increasing Pakistan’s total forest cover from 4% to 6% in the last 2 years.
She is the same minister who stated that she is happy that less cars are produced and economic activity is reduced in Pakistan as this will lead to less pollution. Government cannot create jobs but can destroy them. Monal was employing around 100 people. Now government will pay them or they will be adjusted in Tiger force?.
Government reps should think before taking such type of actions. They don’t know the outcome of such kind of bullshit decisions. On one side they want to promote tourism and assuming we will host Tourism 2020 and on the other hand they are thinking to close down such kind of amusement places. Since long time they were sleeping and now they came to know. What i think may be 1000 people will be unemployed and the surroundings villages will be affected more.
Totally Fake News. Bloggers are using cheap tricks to get likes and comments. Such type of Blogs should be discouraged with strict penalty actions.
One thing only: Army wants this place, and they want to run another profitable business here.
Good show. Even though Monal is a great place, mowing down trees and throwing trash is not good for the animals in the area. Please take similar action in Swat and Murree areas.