Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz on Friday directed the environment wing of the authority to ensure the development and up-gradation of the city’s environment facilities and fix a time frame in this regard.
He said as part of the environmental conservation protection and promotions measures being taken by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Marghzar Zoo would have a new lion, elephant and an ostrich to add to its recreational facilities for the general public. CDA plans to approach the Sri Lankan and South African governments to get an elephant and a pair of lions.
CDA Chairman Syed Tahir Shahbaz, during his visit to Marghzar Zoo, Sector G-13, directed the concerned officials to inspect the ongoing development work on environmental facilities of the city.
He said that a comprehensive up-gradation and development plan for the environment was being implemented to further improve the beauty of the city. The chairman said that the Marghzar Zoo was the centre of attraction for not only residents of the capital but also for the people visiting Islamabad. He said that up-gradation and expansion of the Zoo was the need of the hour.
Environment Member Dr Kazim Niaz apprised that phase-I of the expansion plan of the Marghzar Zoo had been completed at a cost of Rs 19.37 million. The work on Phase-II would commence after completing the tendering process. The present Zoo was a sort of a make-shift arrangement, which was being expanded to an area of 82.24 acres and a PC-I to this effect had been prepared. The Phase-II of the expansion and development of the Zoo would cost Rs .632 million. CDA Chairman said the authority would extend all possible resources for the development and expansion of Marghzar Zoo. He said some additional enclosures for elephants and other animals have also been constructed, which would help provide better facilities in the Zoo.
Syed Tahir Shahbaz said the environment wing of the authority had chalked out a comprehensive programme for conservation of environment and to raise awareness on environmental issues.
The programme was being implemented in collaboration with partner organisations, NGOs, schools, colleges, civil society organizations and environmentalists. He said special focus was being given to the cleanliness, maintenance and up-gradation of the parks in the city. He said Margallah Hills National Park was an asset for the city and the rich bio-diversity of this national park would be protected and preserved. He said that CDA would also launch anti-littering drive in participation with the general public and the traders community.
Dr Kazim Niaz apprised the chairman that the environment wing has executed different activities in collaboration with public and private schools, environmental NGOs, including WWF, to raise awareness for keeping the city clean and protecting the natural assets of Islamabad. Collective efforts would help preserve the rich fauna and flora of the area as there were very few capital cities in the world that are blessed with such close proximity of nature as Islamabad.
The chairman ordered making of concrete efforts to protect the Margallah Hills from seasonal fire with effective monitoring and deployment of the firefighting staff.