Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has received technical bids from two joint ventures (JVs) for the construction of Islamabad’s first-ever cricket stadium, planned near the foothills of the Margalla Hills in Sector D-12.
The two JVs that submitted their bids are Habib Construction–ZKB-EA and the Lemar Builders–BK Consultants Pvt Ltd partnership. The project, valued at PKR 11.4 billion, will be executed under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model, with the next phase involving the submission of financial bids by the shortlisted JVs.
In parallel, the CDA has received bids from two consultant firms—a Pakistani firm, Asian, in joint venture with a Turkish company, and Nespak. The consultant bids are currently under technical evaluation, after which final decisions will be made.
The proposed stadium site falls in Zone III, where sports and recreational facilities are permitted. However, the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) has requested clarifications regarding the project’s layout and whether the site overlaps the Margalla Hills National Park or its 100-meter protected buffer zone, in line with the Islamabad Nature Conservation and Wildlife Management Act, 2024.
In its letter, the IWMB stated that any development within or adjacent to the protected zone must ensure minimal disturbance to wildlife and requires a no-objection certificate (NOC) before construction can begin.
The CDA, in collaboration with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), aims to build the stadium on approximately 50 acres within a proposed Olympic Village spanning 175 acres. The stadium is planned to have a seating capacity of around 32,000 and a parking facility for 10,000 cars located about one kilometre from the venue. Officials have expressed interest in modeling the stadium after the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Currently, the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium is the only facility in the twin cities capable of hosting international matches. Past attempts to construct a stadium in Shakarparian were halted following Supreme Court directions.
The CDA and PCB have indicated that construction and land-use approvals will follow after technical evaluations, financial bid submissions, and compliance with environmental regulations to ensure both public access and the protection of the Margalla Hills ecosystem.
Samra Zulfiqar, a real estate analyst at Zameen.com, is passionate about finding projects that offer buyers the best returns. Her keen insights spotlight the market’s most promising opportunities.
