The World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P) has warned of “potentially irreversible ecological risks” linked to ongoing and planned development activities at the foothills of Islamabad’s Margalla Hills, urging authorities to suspend all such projects pending a comprehensive environmental review.
In a statement issued on Friday, WWF-Pakistan expressed serious concern over what it described as escalating construction and infrastructure expansion in ecologically sensitive areas surrounding the Margalla Hills National Park.
The organisation noted that recent assessments and reports indicate large-scale vegetation clearance and development activity across multiple locations in Islamabad, raising alarm among environmental experts, civil society groups, and the public.
WWF-P described the Margalla Hills National Park and its surrounding ecosystem as a “critical ecological landscape” that supports diverse wildlife species and plays a vital role in maintaining Islamabad’s air quality, groundwater recharge, and climate balance.
It warned that development near the park—even outside formally designated buffer zones—could lead to habitat fragmentation, disruption of wildlife corridors, and long-term ecological degradation.
According to the statement, field observations suggest that ongoing expansion of road networks, land clearing, and infrastructure projects in areas such as the Margalla Enclave Link Road and surrounding foothills have already caused measurable environmental impact.
The organisation further raised concern over recent government proposals to develop a 1,000-kanal park in the Margalla foothills, which reportedly includes plans for supporting infrastructure such as hotels, sports facilities, and commercial developments.
WWF-Pakistan said there is limited publicly available information on environmental impact assessments, stakeholder consultation processes, and ecological mitigation plans for these projects.
It stressed that all development activities in environmentally sensitive zones should undergo transparent, independently reviewed environmental impact assessments before approval.
The organisation has urged the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and relevant agencies to establish and enforce strict “no-go zones” within and around the Margalla Hills National Park, where development should be completely prohibited.
It also called for the immediate suspension of all ongoing and proposed projects in sensitive foothill areas until a full environmental review is completed.
The CDA has reportedly planned multiple development initiatives in the Zone III area near D-12, including a park, cricket stadium, Olympic Village, and related infrastructure. However, questions have been raised over the inclusion of commercial facilities such as hotels in an area where such construction is reportedly restricted.
Meanwhile, political opposition has also emerged. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), an ally of the ruling coalition, has criticized the proposed development, calling it “ecological terrorism” and warning of long-term environmental consequences, including large-scale tree loss and disruption to Islamabad’s natural landscape.
Environmental debate continues to intensify as concerns grow over balancing urban development with ecological preservation in the capital.
