Almost three months after the demolition of a number of restaurants in PirSohawa, Nature and greenery are reclaiming the lost space and according to experts, the 80-kanal recovered land once covered with cement and concrete will soon be re-integrated into the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP). By the end of 2025 no one will be able to recognize if there existed any commercial activity at this place, they said.
In order to formally launch the site’s reintegration into MNHP, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) Saturday evening kicked off a plantation drive (phase-I) at the site as tributes to those journalists who have been supporting the Board’s environment-friendly initiatives and raising voices against commercial activities within the MHNP.
The event marked a significant step in the restoration of the national park, in line with the Supreme Court’s directives to preserve the natural space and protect the fragile ecosystem.
Chairperson of the IWMB Rina S Khan who has been quite instrumental in raising public awareness and implementing the Supreme Court’s orders expressed her gratitude to the journalists and called them ‘Friends of the IWMB’ in restoring the park. She invited them individually to plant a sapling at the demolished site.
We are planning to set up an information and facilitation centre for the visitors at the site, she said adding it was not possible to remove all the cemented terraces and concrete walls as it could lead to land-sliding. However, we plan to grow plants in the cemented floors and I am sure the site will soon become part of the forest, she said. It is pertinent to mention here that in September this year buildings of Monal Restaurant, La Montana and Gloria Jeans were razed on the orders of the Supreme Court.
The apex court had ruled that the restaurants’ presence contributed to severe environmental degradation, including pollution of freshwater springs, threats to wildlife health, and worsening vehicular congestion and noise pollution.
A large number of volunteers including wardens of the IWMB and general public also participated in the good cause. Kashan, a BS student of the Air University, Khurram a volunteer and ‘Awareness Man’ MansoorSherwani were also there helping media persons plant their saplings. MansoorSherwani the Awareness Man had been cleaning the PirSohawa Road for weeks and raising public awareness about keeping the national park green. Likewise Kashan had come from Rawalpindi to participate in restoration of the MHNP.
On the occasion, Jacaranda, Amaltas, Pine, Sanatha, and other indigenous flora were planted. The activity aimed at rejuvenating the natural ecosystem and contributing to biodiversity restoration. Each plant bore a plaque inscribed with the name of the journalist recognizing their continuous efforts to highlight the environmental hazards caused by the commercial activities in the area.
Rina emphasized the importance of protecting the park, one of the country’s most cherished natural resources. “Today’s plantation drive is not just about replanting trees; it’s about ensuring that the voices of the journalists, who have long fought to preserve this natural space, are remembered and honored,” said she. “Their work has been instrumental in bringing attention to the violations that were threatening the integrity of this national park,” she said.
