CDA has confirmed that Islamabad’s new cricket stadium will be built near Sector D-12 in Zone III, outside the Margalla Hills National Park boundary and linked to a wider Olympic Village plan.
Stadium Site Placed Outside Margalla Hills National Park
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has officially clarified the exact location of Islamabad’s planned new cricket stadium after questions were raised by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB). According to CDA officials, the proposed site is located near Sector D-12 in Zone III of the capital’s master plan, and does not fall within the notified limits of Margalla Hills National Park.
The clarification follows IWMB’s request for detailed information on the stadium project, including its layout and distance from the national park boundary. The Board had specifically asked whether the stadium footprint lies inside, touches or overlaps either the park area or the 100-metre protected buffer zone defined under the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act, 2024. CDA’s response is that the land in question is outside the park and within a zone where certain types of recreational development are already permitted.
Zone III Rules and CDA’s Argument for a Stadium
Under existing land-use rules, Zone III is primarily a controlled area with restrictions on dense urban construction, but it does allow designated recreational projects. CDA is arguing that a cricket stadium fits within this allowable category, especially when designed with environmental safeguards and limited commercial activity. Officials have also indicated that supporting facilities directly linked to stadium operations can be planned under the same framework.
However, they acknowledge that any broader commercial components proposed later—such as large shopping plazas, hotels or entertainment complexes—would require separate approvals at the federal level. For now, the focus is on getting consensus around the stadium’s basic footprint, access routes and environmental compliance so that construction bids invited earlier can move toward execution once all clearances are in place.
Part of a Larger Olympic Village Concept Near Margalla Hills
CDA meetings have discussed the new cricket stadium as a central feature of a wider Olympic Village-style development. The broader complex is expected to cover around 175 acres and could include training facilities, support buildings and other sports infrastructure. The design vision is to offer spectators an open view of the Margalla Hills while keeping the main stadium structure and heavy traffic flows outside the most sensitive ecological zones.
According to initial planning, the stadium itself is being designed with a seating capacity of about 32,000 spectators. Parking for roughly 10,000 vehicles is expected to be located about one kilometre away, a choice that could help reduce congestion directly around the venue and allow more room for pedestrian access control and security checks. CDA officials have also suggested that the concept takes inspiration from the Dubai cricket stadium model, where the ground is positioned as part of a larger, carefully planned sports district.
Cost Estimates Revised Down as Design is Fine-Tuned
Earlier planning documents placed the project cost at around Rs12 billion under the first PC-1 approval. However, CDA now says that revised planning and optimisation of the design have brought the estimated cost down to nearly Rs8 billion. This reduction appears to come from phasing certain components, rationalising auxiliary facilities and adjusting specifications while keeping core stadium standards intact.
Officials maintain that the revised cost estimate is more realistic in the current fiscal environment and may improve the project’s chances of securing timely funding and approvals. They also argue that a modern, purpose-built venue in Islamabad would carry long-term benefits by attracting international fixtures, domestic tournaments and corporate events, ultimately helping recover part of the investment through ticket sales, broadcast revenue and associated economic activity.
Why Islamabad Needs Its Own Modern Cricket Venue
At present, Islamabad and Rawalpindi rely almost entirely on the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for hosting international matches and major domestic games. This arrangement often leads to heavy congestion and extensive security lockdowns when teams move between the twin cities, causing inconvenience to residents, commuters and businesses along key routes.
By building a dedicated cricket stadium in Islamabad, CDA and cricket authorities hope to ease some of this pressure and give the capital a venue that meets modern hosting standards. A stadium near D-12, if completed with proper transport links and environmental safeguards, could become a long-term asset for national and international cricket. For now, CDA says the IWMB has not formally objected to the project, but is waiting for full documentation to confirm that the design respects all legal protections for Margalla Hills and its buffer zones before any physical work begins.
