This is about the recent news that Islamabad's Capital Development Authority is planning to develop Pir Sohawa & Daman-i-Koh into a tourist attraction.

Chairman CDA, Amer Ali Ahmed has instructed various CDA departments to open more hotels and restaurants for tourists in these Margalla Hills areas, Dawn reported on Dec. 6. It is extremely unfortunate that establishing hotels and restaurants in a national park area is being seen as "development."

This is an appeal to the honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan, SAPM Climate Change, Minister of State for Clime Change, Chairman CDA & other stakeholders. We, the citizens of twin cities of Islamabad & Rawalpindi, would like to highlight to the relevant authorities that construction in the name of development has already affected the beautiful & green Margalla Hills. Existing hotels, restaurants and clubs have destroyed the natural water streams and have seldom adopted proper waste disposal to conserve the environment they are operating in.

Investors looking to start a hotel or restaurant have many options within Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Similarly, established tourist areas are easily accessible from Islamabad reducing the need to yet again start destruction of environment in a national park.

We, the people, love our Margalla Hills forests. Currently, these hills offer multiple hiking trails to nature lovers and are home to local wild life like pheasants, barking deer, monkeys and leopards. They are a natural treasure producing oxygen & cleaning the air. Margalla Hills is also the only watershed for Islamabad & Rawalpindi and provide an excellent opportunity for hiking in peace and wilderness. Therefore, we must care for the blessing we have in the form of Margalla Hills.

If it must, the Government & CDA should consider conserving Margalla Hills National Park and nearby areas, which are already protected under law. Please encourage sustainable & responsible tourism instead of any further development of hotels & restaurants.

Any plans affecting Margalla Hills must include a public consultation process to ensure that environment impact assessment on climate, conservation of wildlife & nature are key factors in any decisions.