ISLAMABAD: Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in its fact-finding report on illegal construction and environmental degradation in the Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP) said that illegal construction and habitat destruction in the MHNP are not isolated incidents.

“Rather, they are a microcosm of Pakistan’s broader environmental crisis. As this report has revealed, unchecked urban encroachment has led to deforestation, loss of critical wildlife habitats and weakened regulatory institutions,” read the report.

It also pointed out the protracted tug-of-war between the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and Capital Development Authority CDA underscores systemic governance failures that mirror national struggles over land use, biodiversity protection, and climate resilience.

“Without urgent, coordinated reforms—clarifying park boundaries, empowering independent conservation bodies, engaging local communities as stewards, and enforcing rigorous environmental assessments—the degradation of the Margalla Hills will continue to reflect and exacerbate Pakistan’s escalating environmental emergency,” read the report.

Unchecked encroachment blamed for deforestation, loss of wildlife habitats at MHNP

It recommended revising demarcation of the MHNP.

“A necessary step is the immediate revision of demarcation of the MHNP, as the park includes many areas that are now urbanised settlements, such as Bani Gala and Saidpur Village. A new reconfiguration of the MHNP’s boundaries will inform the public about which areas are off-limits and serve as wildlife habitats. The demarcation should also account for community expansion within the MHNP,” read the report.

It said that to ensure livelihoods for locals in case other commercial ventures are closed in the future.

The report further pointed out that IWMB should also avoid carrying out any demolitions due to the environmental damage this may cause and to remain within its institutional mandate.

“The government is advised not to take any more arbitrary decisions. Instead, it should hold wider consultations with civil society and subject experts to devise a more comprehensive strategy for demarcation and other key decisions. The federal government should ensure the involvement ofPakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA) to conduct much-needed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and IEEs before any future commercial structures are built that may have adverse environmental impacts,” read the report.

The report pointed out that dialogue and better coordination between the CDA, IWMB, Ministry of Climate Change and transparency in IWMB.

Several stakeholders stressed the need to logically analyse the ongoing rift by setting aside ‘personal egos’, as the CDA is a resourceful organisation and the IWMB cannot function without its backing. For the IWMB to be transparent, it is proposed that at least two non-ex-officio members be appointed to maintain a quorum.

The board should act as a core team overseeing and managing the newly demarcated park with the CDA’s assistance and support.

The mission emphasises the importance of protecting the MHNP as a park rich in biodiversity.

The communities within the park need to be protected as well and should be made stewards of the park rather than adversaries. Key stakeholders underscored the role of an effective local government in ICT as a possible solution to end the institutional clash between the IWMB and CDA. Moreover, an elected body is necessary to diminish CDA’s statutory powers so the board can function without pressure.

The communities within the park need to be protected as well and should be made stewards of the park rather than adversaries. Key stakeholders underscored the role of an effective local government in ICT as a possible solution to end the institutional clash between the IWMB and CDA. Moreover, an elected body is necessary to diminish CDA’s statutory powers so the board can function without pressure.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2025