The Capital Development Authority has held a consultative meeting to accelerate work on the first cricket stadium in Islamabad.
During the meeting, the consultant was directed to quickly determine whether the contractor’s proposed construction rates were reasonable.
The stadium will be built near D-12 at the foothills of the Margallas in Zone III. According to the CDA, the project will be a replica of Dubai International Stadium and will accommodate 35,000 spectators.
Sources said CDA Member Environment Abdullah Khurram Niazi chaired the meeting, which was attended by the consultant, contractor and relevant officials.
The CDA has already opened financial bids, and a joint venture of Habib Construction Service and ZKB-EA submitted the lowest bid of Rs8.9 billion for structural work, including a three-kilometre road network. The estimated cost in the PC-I stands at Rs11.9 billion.
Officials discussed the Bills of Quantities, scope of work and project breakdown, and directed the consultant to complete the rate reasonableness process so the authority can issue work orders.
The proposed site lies outside Margalla Hills National Park but falls in Zone III, where construction changes are restricted except for recreation, conservation and preservation projects. CDA officials said the cricket stadium falls under the recreation category.
They added that the federal cabinet is still considering proposals related to hotels and commercial areas linked to the project.
Officials said the stadium is part of a 175-acre Olympic Village plan, with nearly 50 acres reserved for the stadium. The CDA board had already approved the idea of adding a hotel for player accommodation.
The CDA spokesperson said the stadium is permissible in Zone III as a recreational project, while the hotel and commercial components still await federal approval.
He added that no final decision has been taken on the proposed motel site near the sports complex and said several motels already exist in the area.
The spokesperson also said the issue of Zone III’s public land and construction has remained under discussion for several years, but no final settlement has been reached.
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