Here’s What Islamabad Will Get Instead of Monal, Other Restaurants

Before large restaurants were built on the ridge on Pir Sohawa Road in the heart of Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP), the breezy hilltop was visited freely by the public.  

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) intends to restore this hilltop to free public access. “The buildings will be dismantled from September 12 (Thursday) and the area around them rewilded and re-integrated into the natural landscape that surrounds them as per the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan,” an IWMB news release said.  

IWMB has notified an implementation committee comprising officials from the District Administration, Islamabad Police, Capital Development Authority, Ministry of Climate Change and restoration experts, and concerned citizens who have set up an enforcement task force. Machinery and labor provided by CDA will dismantle the restaurants including the removal of debris.   

Hilltop restoration plan

A restoration model for the hilltop has been approved by members of the committee and an architect will be hired. The hilltop will be transformed into an open-air space that promotes both public engagement and wildlife conservation. The plan is to create a Margalla Viewpoint that enhances public enjoyment while promoting awareness of indigenous flora and fauna. For this, there will be:  

• Installation of comfortable benches for visitors to relax and enjoy the scenic views.

• Planting local flora to support biodiversity and create a natural habitat for wildlife.

• Installation of educational displays featuring indigenous wildlife species to raise awareness about local biodiversity.

A water harvesting system will be installed along with a reservoir to promote sustainable water use and management. The retaining walls of the terraces will remain, but the concrete inside will be removed for plantation. There will also be a small Emergency Response Facility with an area for quick response and first aid services, specifically for firefighting emergencies.  

There will be implementation of a lighting management policy to switch off solar lights at sunset to minimize disturbance to wildlife.   

The IWMB also thanked Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa for his landmark judgment upholding the earlier Islamabad High Court judgment by Justice Athar Minallah.