Trail-6 opened for bikers, elders and bird-watchers

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has inaugurated a hiking trail equipped with exclusive features including a track for mountain bikes, a smooth slope for senior citizens and a bird-watching facility.
The trail was inaugurated by the Information and Broadcasting Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira in a ceremony held on Friday. CDA Chairman Tahir Shahbaz and Environment Member Kazim Niaz were also present at the occasion.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of Trail-6, Shahbaz said this was the first hiking trail in the country that had a separate track for mountain bikers. A bird-watching facility at start of the trail has added to the track’s beauty, he added. Shahbaz said that private partners like the Premier Oil and Himalayan Wildlife Foundation had paid for the trail. He said Trail-6 will facilitate families and senior citizens as its surface is not uneven and bouncy and visitors could easily climb these hills. He said the CDA had also established sit-out areas on the track for elderly people. The chairman said that bikers would be asked to adopt safety measures on the trail. He said an information centre had been set up where visitors could get information regarding the trail, as well as the flora and fauna of the Margalla Hills. He said the CDA would upgrade other trails by providing similar facilities for hikers. The 4km trail passes through the Kavani Valley and will touch Chak Jabbi on the hilltop. This is the sixth trail opened in the capital, as five hiking trails have already been opened for nature enthusiasts. Addressing the ceremony, Kaira said that Islamabad was a model city for the country and the CDA would take concrete measures for making it a model capital of the world.