Capital Development Authority moves for early start of work on cricket stadium
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday held a consultative meeting for the early start of work on the first ever cricket stadium in the capital. In this regard, the consultant was directed to check at the earliest if construction rates presented by the contractor were reasonable. As per CDA’s plan, the stadium is going to be constructed near D-12 at the foothills of…
Islamabad witnessed a consultative meeting held by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Monday, aiming to expedite the early commencement of construction work for the capital's first ever cricket stadium. The proposed stadium, slated for construction near D-12 in Zone III, is envisioned as a replica of Dubai International Stadium with a capacity to accommodate 35,000 spectators.
The CDA plans to procure the structure at a cost of Rs8.9 billion, with the lowest bid coming from a joint venture of Habib Construction Service and ZKB-EA, which also includes a 3-kilometer road network. The total covered area of the project spans over 600,000 square feet.
During the meeting chaired by CDA member environment Abdullah Khurram Niazi, the consultant was instructed to ensure the construction rates provided by the contractor are reasonable. The area where the stadium is to be constructed falls under Zone III, where according to ICT Zoning Regulations 1992, no changes in land use are permissible except for projects related to recreation, conservation, and preservation. The cricket stadium project is classified under the category of recreation.
The CDA officials explained that the construction of hotels and commercial areas attached to the project has been a subject of discussion. Former CDA chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa had previously submitted a summary to the federal cabinet seeking permission for hotels and commercial areas, which was subsequently referred back with some questions by the Prime Minister's Office. The CDA has since resubmitted the summary with the required information.
The cricket stadium is part of the Olympic Village site of 175 acres, with about 50 acres allocated for the stadium project. In November 2025, the CDA board decided that a hotel should also be constructed in the area to accommodate players. However, the CDA's acquisition of land in unacquired villages of Zone III and Zone IV for regulation of construction has raised concerns, with an official source noting that unauthorized construction has taken place in these zones.
The government's interest in resolving the issue of the public in these unacquired villages of Zone III remains unmet.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
