Islamabad cricket digs mired in legal issues

Image: Islamabad Properties

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has started the bid evaluation for Islamabad’s (capital city of Pakistan) first cricket stadium near D-12 with a Rs 12 billion plan, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model and legal questions over the Margalla Hills site.
 

Legal and Environmental Questions Remain

‘icci.pk’ stated that even though the project has gained momentum it still faces sensitive legal and regulatory issues. The officials say the proposed site falls in Zone III where sports and recreational activity is allowed but commercial use is restricted. That could affect the future plans for hotel space or other revenue-linked facilities connected to the stadium complex.

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board has already sought clarity on whether the land overlaps with the notified boundaries of the Margalla Hills National Park or the 100-meter protected buffer zone under the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act, 2024. If any part of the project falls inside that protected area the development cannot begin without a formal No Objection Certificate (NOC). These issues could shape the pace and final structure of the project.
 

Key Takeaways:

• The CDA has opened the technical bid evaluation stage for Islamabad’s first cricket stadium project;
• The proposed venue near D-12 is estimated to cost Rs 12 billion under the approved PC-I;
• Two joint ventures have submitted bids under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction model;
• The site may require extra approvals because of wildlife, buffer-zone and commercial-use concerns; and
• If completed, the stadium is expected to seat around 32,000 spectators with large offsite parking.

 
Islamabad (Pakistan)-based the Capital Development Authority (CDA) is a public benefit corporation responsible for providing Municipal services in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

The Engineering, Procurement and construction (EPC) contracts are a form of contract used to undertake construction works by the private sector on large-scale and complex infrastructure projects. They may follow a Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) contract.

The Margalla Hills is a hill range within the Margalla Hills National Park in the Northwestern Punjab region in Pakistan forming the Northern edge of the Islamabad Capital Territory just South of the Haripur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They are part of the Himalayan foothills on the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot and form a subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion. The Margalla Range has an area of 12,605 hectares.
 

Why the Bid Evaluation Matters

‘icci.pk’ further stated that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has moved an important step closer to building Islamabad’s first major cricket stadium. The authority is holding a bid evaluation meeting for the project after receiving technical proposals from two joint ventures. This stage matters because it will determine which bidders qualify to move forward to the financial review and contract decision phase.

For Islamabad, the project is more than a sports venue. It represents a long-discussed attempt to give the federal capital a proper international-standard cricket facility of its own. If the evaluation process moves smoothly the project could shift from planning to execution after years of debate and uncertainty.
 

Project Cost, Location and Bidding Model

According to the approved PC-I, the proposed stadium is estimated to cost around Rs. 12 billion. The planned site is near Sector D-12 at the foothills of the Margalla Hills, an area that gives the project a scenic profile but also raises planning and environmental questions.

The CDA is processing the scheme under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction model. Under this structure the bidders submit designs along with the technical proposals before being invited to provide the financial bids. Two joint ventures have entered the race: Habib Construction with ZKB-EA and Lemar Builders with BK Consultants Private Limited. The separate consultant bids have also been received including one involving a Turkish partnership and another from the National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK).

Lahore (Pakistan)-based Habib Construction is a highly reliable and quality conscious construction company capable of delivering mega projects ranging from highways/motorways to runways to the satisfaction of the private and public sector clients in Pakistan and overseas.

Islamabad (Pakistan)-based the ZKB Engineers and Constructors is a leading infrastructure development company in Pakistan specializing in highways, bridges, buildings, and hydropower projects. With decades of experience the ZKB delivers high-quality engineering solutions for both the public and the private sectors.

Established in 2019, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia)-based Lemar is an international real estate and development company with a focus on the commercial sector creating spaces in prime locations that encourage creativity and collaboration.

Islamabad (Pakistan)-based BK Consultants Private Limited is a progressive and dynamic engineering consulting firm. It offers high-tech engineering consulting services in specialized fields as well as in multidisciplinary projects that require careful planning and innovative design.

Lahore (Pakistan)-based the National Engineering Services Pakistan, commonly known as NESPAK, is a Pakistani State-owned enterprise and energy contractor which provides consulting, construction, engineering, and management services globally.
 

What the Stadium could Look Like

The CDA and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are said to be planning the stadium on roughly 50 acres within a wider 175-acre Olympic Village concept. Recent discussions suggest the venue could provide an open view of the Margalla Hills, seating for about 32,000 people and parking space for around 10,000 vehicles at a location about one kilometer away for the general public.

Lahore (Pakistan)-based the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), formerly known as the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (BCCP), is the governing body for cricket in Pakistan responsible for controlling and organizing all tours and matches undertaken by the Pakistan national cricket team.

However, some major details are still not fully clear. It has not been publicly settled whether the CDA will only provide land or also share the construction cost. There is also a reminder from the past: An earlier attempt to build a stadium at Shakarparian (park in Islamabad, Pakistan) was scrapped after the Supreme Court intervention. That history means this project will likely remain under close public and institutional scrutiny as it moves through the evaluation and approval stages.

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• Capital Development Authority
• cricket
• Islamabad
• Margalla Hills

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