Developments in Islamabad

Islamabad is located in the Pothohar Plateau in the northern part of Pakistan, within the Islamabad Capital Territory. Islamabad is a well-organized city divided into different sectors and zones. It is regarded as the most developed city in Pakistan. It was ranked as a Gamma world city in 2008.[1] The city is home to Faisal Mosque, the largest mosque in South Asia and the sixth largest mosque as per area in the world.

Aiwan e Quaid, Capital Park
Faisal Mosque, Islamabad

Islamabad has seen large-scale development and infrastructure projects since 2003. The most prominent under-construction projects are;

This page provides information on completed projects, under-construction developments, newly proposed and future projects.

Completed Developments

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

The Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus (also named: Pakistan Metrobus or Pindi Metrobus) is a 22.5 km (14.0 mi) BRT system that serves the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in Pakistan. It uses dedicated bus lanes for all of its route covering 24 bus stations. It was inaugurated on 4 June 2015 by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif becoming the second fully functional BRT service in Pakistan after the great success of the BRTS in Lahore.

Islamabad Highway

Islamabad Highway also known as Islamabad Expressway or Faisal Avenue (named after Saudi King Faisal) is one of the main highway of Islamabad, Pakistan that connects it to Rawalpindi. It stretches from Faisal Mosque (on Northern end) to Rawat (on Southern end) linking to GT Road[2] with a length of about 28 kilometers. Its width varies from three lanes to five lanes. It has three interchanges, each at Jinnah Avenue crossing, Zero Point Interchange and Faizabad Interchange.It is soon going to be expanded.

Jinnah-Faisal Avenue Interchange

Jinnah-Faisal Avenue Interchange is a combined development of flyovers, underpasses and roads. The interchange was opened in March 2009. The interchange is located close to The Cantaurus, a seven-star hotel which is currently under construction. The underpass of this interchange was opened in October 2008. The Interchange was built on the Faisal Avenue at the point where it bisects the Jinnah Avenue. The road runs from Zero Point up to the Faisal Mosque and is among the busiest ones in town.

Zero Point Interchange

The Zero Point Interchange is the cluster of flyovers and roads adjacent to Zero point on one side and Islamabad Highway on the other side. It was built by Maqbool Associates (MA)[3] at a cost of Pak.Rs 2.33 billion. The construction work was started in 2007, and was completed in December 2010. The zero point interchange was constructed in two phases, Phase 1 included the three major loops of the interchange, while in Phase 2, two more loops which will connect Khayaban-e-Suhrawardy and Shakarparian were constructed.

Islamabad Stock Exchange Towers

The ISE Towers are a recently completed office building in Islamabad, currently enjoying the status of being its tallest structure.

Telecom Tower

Telecom Tower Islamabad is a 113-meter-high office building built in 2009 and located in the Blue Area of Islamabad.[4] It is being built by Pakistan Telecommunication Trust.[5] The building consist of 24 floors plus four basement levels and includes a parking facility for 400 cars.

Developments under construction

Islamabad International Airport

The New Islamabad International Airport is being built in the capital city of Islamabad which will replace the existing Islamabad International Airport. This new airport is located in Fateh Jang, which is 30 km south-west of the city. The construction of the airport project began in April 2007, after a decade-long postponement. It is expected to be completed and fully operational in 2016.

Margalla Avenue

Margalla Avenue aka Khayaban-e-Margalla would be running along the foothills of Margalla Hills and will connect Sector B-17 (the G.T. Road a little on the south of the Nicholson Monument) to Sector E-11 (11th Avenue and Khayaban-e-Iqbal). This road would also allow an easy approach to the New Islamabad International Airport.

It will be a 16-kilometre, four-lane 48-feet wide each side road with a 20 feet median (green belt) running in between. The project would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs1.8 billion.

Once completed, it would facilitate the travellers heading towards Islamabad from the Northern parts of the country to reach the heart of the city within 10 minutes. It will also facilitate those who have to commute daily from areas like Taxila, Wah Cantt, Hassan Abdal, Haripur to various parts of the federal capital.

Capital Development Authority prepared PC-I of the project in 2008 with a spirit to protect the green image of the national park area. Under the proposed plan, no construction activity would be allowed on the two sides of the road.[6]

On 25 August 2012 Capital Development Authority Chairman Mr. Farkhand Iqbal during his visit to the site of Margalla Avenue confirmed that the road will be constructed from both ends at the same time to expedite the construction on Margalla Avenue.[7]

On 25 September 2012, Capital Development Authority is targeting to open the road for traffic by mid of 2013.[8] A CDA official told ‘The New’ on Monday that the width of the Margalla Avenue has been squeezed to half from 600 feet owing to non-acquisition of land for the project. “The project could have been delayed had we waited for acquisition of remaining land for the avenue,” the official said.

On 5 October 2012 Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) served another notice to Capital Development Authority asking it to conduct the environment impact assessment before beginning construction of the Margalla Avenue.[9] Pak-EPA Director General Mr. Asif Shuja said neither an initial environmental examination (IEE) nor the environmental impact assessment (EIA) had been conducted to conserve the surrounding natural balance.

Canyon Views (Emaar)

Canyon views by real-estate developer Emaar was launched in May 2006[10] and offers a luxurious villa-community spanning over an area of 1,500 acres (6 km³); the project will cost around US$2.4 billion. The Canyon views upon completion will include swimming pools, gymnasium, sports amenities, running track, tennis court, open spaces for picnics and barbecues, retail outlets, restaurants, schools, and a mosque. The views will include 50 communities in it, and when fully completed it will have homes for 9,000 families. The phase-1 of the project has completed while other phases are currently under construction.

Grand Hyatt

The Grand Hyatt is a 5-star hotel under construction in the southern end of the Constitution Avenue on a 13.5 acre (55,000 m2) site (6.75 hectares)[11] and is served by two major highways (Sharah-e-Kashmir to the north and Murree Highway to the south). However its construction has been put on hold indefinitely. This development consists of a 45-story hotel and serviced apartments tower along with two smaller 20-storied residential and office towers.[11] The smaller towers are linked together by means of a bridge at the 20th floor, aligned with the axis of the Constitution Avenue. Other features include retail and food courts, banquet and parking.

The Centaurus

Main article: The Centaurus

The Centaurus is a mixed-use development project currently under construction in Blue Area of Islamabad. The complex is designed by WS Atkins PLC, whose portfolio includes the Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, and the Bahrain World Trade Center in Bahrain. It is a project of the Pak Gulf Construction (Pvt) Ltd (PGCL) in Islamabad. Besides serving residential, commercial, and business purposes, the complex is intended to symbolise the growth of Pakistan, and to enable it to host international conferences and seminars in Pakistan's capital city. The entire development will cost USD 350 million. The complex is planned to have a 37-story, 7 star deluxe hotel, with two 21-story residential towers, a 25-story corporate office tower, and a 5-story shopping mall. The complex will have a parking lot to accommodate over 2,000 vehicles. It is designed to withstand up to 9.5 magnitude earthquakes and was scheduled to be completed in December 2010.

InterContinental hotel

InterContinental Islamabad launched in April 2006 is situated in the heart of the capital's diplomatic enclave and set against the backdrop of the Himalayan foothills. The hotel will feature 260 spacious guest rooms, styled along contemporary lines combined with local accents, three restaurants including Italian and Chinese cuisine specialty restaurants, a full-service spa with gym facilities and an outdoor pool.[12]

The hotel will be operated by InterContinental Hotels and Resorts.

World Trade Center

The World Trade Center, Islamabad project was launched in March 2007 and located in the heart of Phase-II of Defence Housing Authority, Islamabad. It is facing the G.T. Road and is situated in the midst of a 330 kanal long commercial strip which will be completely developed by AL Ghurair Giga Pakistan (PVt.) Limited. The World Trade Center, Islamabad is approximately 13 kilometers from the central business district.

Proposed developments

Mass Transit Rail System

The government is working on the feasibility of the mass transit rail system between Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad and its twin Rawalpindi city.

Islamabad Zoo

Main article: Islamabad Zoo

The Capital Development Authority is planning to develop the existing Islamabad Zoo. The current proposal will extend the existing zoo over an area of 82 acres (330,000 m2) and will exhibit an almost 200 new species.

Forestry Park

The Forestry Park will be developed on 350 acres (1.4 km2) of land and it will be located near Rawal Lake, between the Malpur Village and Bhara Kahu. It is planned that around 150,000 indigenous trees would be planted in the park. The project was announced on 22 July 2009 and expected to cost Rs 239.01 million. The work on the park is expected to commence soon.

Other developments

Source: Islamabad Projects

Housing schemes

Islamabad Capital Territory is subdivided into 5 zones, and the development work is in progress for the following residential and commercial projects;

Islamabad Capital Territory

Zone-II

Zone-II Extension

Zone-III

E-11 sector which society involve is mpchs npf schs fchs

Zone-IV

Zone-V

Model Towns

In 1985, Capital Development Authority declared several outlying areas of Islamabad as 'model villages' to ease the housing problem.[17] These model villages are as follows;

See also

References

  1. ↑ "=The World According to GaWC 2008". Globalization and World Cities(GaWC).
  2. ↑ "Access Islamabad". Islamabad Guide. Islamabad Capital Administration, Government of Pakistan. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ↑ http://www.maqbool.com.pk/PAGES/Projects-Present.html
  4. ↑ http://www.ptet.com.pk/tower.php
  5. ↑ http://callcenterinfo.tmcnet.com/news/2009/06/30/4252404.htm
  6. ↑ http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/28/mega-project-okayed-without-money.html
  7. ↑ http://dawn.com/2012/08/26/new-turn-on-margalla-road/
  8. ↑ http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-6-133803-CDA-plans-to-open-Margalla-Avenue-by-mid-of-next-year
  9. ↑ http://dawn.com/2012/10/06/pak-epa-warns-of-stopping-margalla-avenue-project/
  10. ↑ http://www.emaar.com/pakistan/canyon-view/
  11. 1 2 http://www.oneconstitutionave.com/
  12. ↑ http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/intercontinental/en/gb/new-hotels/islamabad
  13. 1 2 3 http://www.dawn.com/2011/06/04/city-gets-less-to-do-more.html
  14. 1 2 3 http://www.mpchs.com/Content.aspx?Id=18&Cat=Content
  15. ↑ http://www.mpchs.com/Content.aspx?Id=23&Cat=Content
  16. ↑ http://www.cda.gov.pk/cda-latest/files/file.asp?var=margalla-retreat
  17. ↑ http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/10/besides-self-rule-islamabad-citizens-denied-jobs-too.html

External links

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