The long-awaited plan to build a cricket stadium in Islamabad is expected to move forward soon after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to initiate work on the project without delay.
Chairing a meeting to review progress on ongoing and upcoming development initiatives, the minister instructed the CDA to begin construction of the stadium on 25 acres of land near Sector D-12 and Shah Allah Ditta.
While project financing was not discussed, it is anticipated that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will execute the venture. The CDA had previously offered the PCB the same parcel of land in 2023.
Officials briefed the minister that the CDA had received a design proposal from Dubai, featuring a 30,000-seat stadium. The meeting noted that a cricket venue in the foothills of the Margalla Hills would not only enhance the capital’s scenic landscape but could also serve as a venue for international fixtures.
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It may be recalled that a similar stadium project at Shakarparian was halted by the Supreme Court in 2018, which ruled that the site fell within the Margalla Hills National Park (Zone III). The meeting also reviewed progress on other projects, including the extension of Margalla Road.
