New tourist site inaugurated in capital

ISLAMABAD: The city managers have developed a new tourist site having a lotus lake near the natural history museum.

Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed on Sunday inaugurated the site which will be known as ‘Family Park’.

“The purpose of the facility is to provide a peaceful environment close to nature. The lotus lake will be another attraction for the citizens of the twin cities,” the CDA chief.

The new site does not have any cemented construction; instead there are wooden benches and a few barbecue pits on the Shakarparian Hills. The civic body’s member finance Rana Shakeel Asghar, director general environment Naveed Tareen, director environment Irfan Niazi and other CDA officers attended the inauguration.

Sources said the 100ft long and 68ft wide lotus lake was currently being tested on trial basis and would be filled with water in the next few days. The area had a natural lotus lake with pink and white flowers. However, the lake reduced in size due to construction of the Culture Complex in 2004-05.

After taking control of the environment wing from the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad last month, Amer Ali Ahmed directed the CDA to develop the lake and family park in the area.

The environment wing then set up the park on almost 10 acres with a lotus lake, installed wooden benches and earmarked a barbecue site. The officials of the environment wing said a total of 20 pits would be established.

“Taking great interest in construction and beautification of tourist spots, the CDA chairman inaugurated the family park and Kanwal (lotus) Lake at Shakarparian to provide the best tourism facilities to the citizens of the capital,” a press release issued by the CDA on Sunday said.

The press release said after 11 years the civic agency had established a park facility – the last being in 2009. Only families will be allowed in the park, it added.