Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has failed to relocate the Chaghi mountain model in F-9 Park, which was removed due to the expansion of the Islamabad Express Highway.

The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and its head on most occasions, especially in public gatherings claim absolute credit for making Pakistan an atomic power by successfully testing atomic weapons in Chaghi, a district of Balochistan.

But, at the same time, right under his nose, the only model to commemorate the atomic tests conducted to make the defence of our country impregnable in the federal capital, could not be preserved.

After the nuclear tests on May 28, 1998 in Chaghi, a model of “Chaghi Hills” was made and installed alongside the main Islamabad Express Highway near the Faizabad flyover. The model was funded by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission.

A number of public rallies make it as a final destination on May 28, every year to observe the Youm-e-Takbeer, a day when Pakistan emerged as the 7th atomic power in the world.

The said model was dismantled in August 2016, when the widening of the Islamabad Express Highway was under way and parts of the model were left unattended by the contractor.

A picture of the abandoned model appeared in the national press, which prompted city managers to respond. The mayor of Islamabad at that time announced that the model would be relocated at F-9 Park.

A press note issued by the CDA stated: “The Chaghi mountain model installed at Faizabad will be relocated at Fatimah Jinnah Park (F-9 Park). This was decided due to the construction of the signal free corridor from Zero Pint to Rawat.”

Unfortunately, after the passing of six months, not only the city managers have failed to relocate the model, but sources also claim that the parts of the said model are now not in a position to be reused due to the negligence of concerned formations.

When contacted, the Director Regional Environment, who is in charge of the area simply shifted his responsibility on the other’s shoulder and said; “it was the duty of the Director Technical Environment to relocate the model.” When asked who the director technical was, he said; “I don’t know about him.”

The Director General Environment was contacted several times, but he was also unavailable to respond.

Earlier, a similar symbolic monument of Pakistan’s nuclear capability installed at Bagh-e-Jinnah in Karachi was also burnt mysteriously, when a fire broke out in 2004.

It is a serious matter and needs the attention of the higher ups of the MCI and the CDA as these iconic models cannot be destroyed in any case. There are a lot of places in the federal capital where the Chaghi model can be relocated, if any hidden policy is not behind the whole episode.