Daily Times

Prime Minister’s Adviser Malik Amin Aslam said that no tree cutting and carrying out of any construction activities for any purpose would be tolerated at any cost in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP).

While addressing media here on Wednesday he stressed, “No one is allowed to play havoc with the Margalla Hills National Park in any form.”

Talking about recent acts of tree cutting and expansion of the construction activities conducted by the Monal Restaurant management on the front its sides, he told media that these non-confirming activities, taken in a clandestine way, has led to massive land degradation, which will take a long time to get restored to its previous state.

Malik Amin Aslam recalled that some photos of tree cutting and land leveling near the Monal restaurant were circulating on social media, inviting public hue and cry.

“We took serious notice of the photos and moved for verification of the photos’ authenticity. On finding them authentic in nature.and true depiction of the gruesome situation of environmental degradation caused due to the tree cutting and land laveling activities by the restaurant’s management, I directed the Environmental Protection Agency Islamabad to take legal action against behind the criminal activities,” he explained.

Later, the same were shared with the Chief Commissioner Islamabad and Islamabad Capital Territory Administration, requesting them to take immediate action. Resultantly, the District Administration along with the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) of the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), conducted a raid on May 18 evening, which led to arrest of two persons namely Muhammad Sagheer and Muhammad Naeem on the spot and FIR NO 224/20 was also lodged in Police Station Kohsar, F/7, Islamabad, the Adviser Malik Amin Aslam told media.

He recalled that in the year 2005, a restaurant named Monal was allowed construction by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). Later on, few other restaurants including Lamontana, Gloria Jeans, Whispering Pines (located in KPK) and some other recreational activities spots were constructed in the MHNP in KPK area as well.

He also said that “we must know all have been constructed without any environmental approval from the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Islamabad (Pak-EPA), which are undoubtedly causing incessant damages to eco-system and spiking levels of pollutions in the vicinity.

He also call upon the Islamabad Administration to take serious action against all sorts of environment-damaging activities in the Margalla Hills National Park area.

“We have already directed to take all possible legal actions against those involved in tree cutting and causing environmental damage to the Park area,” Malik Amin added.

Earlier, he also visited the damaged site near Monal restaurant and took stock of the damage caused due to land leveling and tree cutting activities and expressed serious grief over the callous attitude of the people, who played havoc with the Park area.

Malik Amin Aslam also planted tree and directed Islamabad District Administration officials to ensure the restoration of the damaged site to its original state.