Pakistan: Islamabad is Getting a Downtown With Apartments, Parks, and Business Centers
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is moving forward with plans to develop a major residential-cum-commercial zone named Jinnah Square Downtown, covering 5,400 kanal along Srinagar Highway and Murree Road.
The project will stretch from the One Constitution building to near the Bhara Kahu Bypass. It will feature plots for hotels, apartments, a hospital, commercial zones, and recreational spaces. About 40% of the area will be built-up, while 60% will remain green, allocated for parks and roads.
The location, situated between Rawal Dam and the Margalla Hills, is seen as highly attractive for investors. CDA officials believe the project could generate trillions of rupees over the next 20 years.
The authority already holds over 90% of the required land, with only a portion of Malpur still under adverse possession. The proposal will be submitted to the federal cabinet via the Ministry of Interior for final approval.
CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa initiated the idea during site visits, where he identified large vacant plots. If approved, international consultants will be hired for the project’s planning and execution.
Meanwhile, the underpass project on Murree Road is also underway and is expected to be completed by the end of May, providing a direct route to Srinagar Highway and easing traffic congestion.
Reference Link:- https://propakistani.pk/2025/05/04/islamabad-is-getting-a-downtown-with-apartments-parks-and-business-centers/
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
