The federal government has decided to close the Monal Restaurant in the forests of Margalla in Islamabad as the law does not allow any construction or business activity in the national park.
This was stated by Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul in an exclusive interview with Urdu News. Asked if the government would demolish the Monal Restaurant, which is located in Margalla National Park, She said yes all unlawfull construction will be removed by Goverment.
She lamented that businesses in national parks are earning in millions but aren’t directing enough funds under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agreement for the preservation and restoration of these areas. Instead, businesses operating in the national parks try to expand illegally whenever they find an opportunity to do so.
For instance, earlier in May, Islamabad’s District Administration sealed the Monal restaurant after its management started chopping down trees surrounding the eatery in an attempt to expand surreptitiously.
Gul said that the Federal government has is focused on preserving the 15 national parks across Pakistan along with completing the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami project to increase the forest cover of the country.
She added that Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) government’s 10 Billion Tree Tsunami project has received global recognition.
So far, 322.4 million trees have been planted under the project that has helped in increasing Pakistan’s total forest cover from 4% to 6% in the last 2 years.