The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has taken control of the Monal and La Montana restaurants situated in the Margalla Hills National Park, following the Supreme Court’s directive to demolish the structures and restore the area to its natural habitat.
In compliance with the court’s orders issued on August 21, the IWMB has sought assistance from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to provide heavy machinery and staff required for the demolition process. The IWMB’s letter to the CDA, dated September 12, acknowledged the CDA’s cooperation and requested the necessary support for removing the structures and debris from the site.
An official from the IWMB confirmed that after completing the demolition, efforts would focus on restoring the affected area to its original state. The hilltop location along Pir Sohawa Road, which offers scenic views of Islamabad, was once freely accessible to the public before the construction of the large restaurants. The official indicated that the IWMB aims to restore the site to its former state for public enjoyment.
The IWMB has already formed an 11-member committee to oversee the process, comprising representatives from the Ministry of Climate Change, IWMB, district administration, the capital police, and CDA officials, along with other experts. Following the closure of Monal and La Montana, the traffic load on Pir Sohawa Road has also significantly decreased, the official added.
Sources revealed that the owners of the two restaurants had no choice but to vacate the buildings, as their review petitions had been rejected by the Supreme Court. While the owners look to the CDA, which built Monal and leased it for 15 years starting in 2006, to file a review petition, the CDA has yet to make a decision on the matter.
The CDA’s lease for Monal expired in 2021, and before the expiry, the restaurant’s management had claimed that the land belonged to the army, not the CDA, which adds a further layer of complexity to the case.