Closure of Monal is interesting story in the legal history of Islamabad in a sense that the dispute was between some other authorities but price is being paid by Monal only. The best tourist spot of Pakistan has been locked down while Monal still has valid 15 years of lease agreement with CDA. That is why people of Pakistan are taken aback that what is going on in Islamabad. “Save Monal” has become the top trend at twitter while people are also sharing it on other social media pages like face book etc.
The most interesting point is, only Monal has been locked down while other 17 restaurants are still working and no action in the name of environment, state land, whatsoever has been taken against them.People are asking why Monal only? Why it was necessary to shut down the doors of livelihood on 700 families in so much hast? What was the emergency? Why it was so urgent?
Monal was constructed by the CDA in 2005 under the Provision 21 (3) of MHNP ordinance and was leased out for 30 Years. Monal has always been the Center of attraction for all the negative propaganda despite the fact that it’s just one of the many restaurants on the Islamabad – Pirsohawa Road. Damn e Koh has at least 100 kiosks and there are 12 other restaurants in the area. Monal has always abided by all the environmental requirements. No complaint has ever been registered by any citizen or agency against Monal.
Cheif Exective of Monal is none other than a President Award decorated entrepreneur. Luqman Ali Afzal was awarded this highest civil medal by President Dr Arif Alvi in March 2019. It was in appreciation of Luqman’s contribution in promotion of tourism, training of more than 36 thousand youth in hospitality business and providing jobs to thousands of Pakistanis direct and indirectly.
Closure of Monal has deprived more than 700 families of nearby villages of their bread and butter. These families staged a protest in Islamabad and called upon the concerned authorities to review their decision and save the souls of the families who depend upon their jobs at Monal only.
A widow told this scribe that she has five children. Four are special children. Only one is healthy and he earns the living from Monal on which the whole family survives.
Another employee who is again a widow is the mother of 3 daughters. She has no other job to feed her daughters. These are two examples only. Most of the protestors had the same kind of problems.
Monal is the only tourist spot in Islamabad where every foreign tourists visits.
Monal employees say that authorities can negotiate with the administration of Monal if they have some legal issues but this spot should remain and government should retain it if government really intends to promote tourism and soft image of Pakistan.
Prime Minister is always saying that we need to promote tourism if we want to strengthen our economy and image but at the other hand some authorities are bent upon closing the most attractive tourist spot in the capital city Islamabad.
Rina Saeed Khan of Islamabad Wildlife Management Board is one of them who have fixed their eyes on Monal since long. She has ordered Monal admin to vacate the place and remove all the inventory as soon as possible. She was entrusted with the responsibility of restoration of national park and wild life but what she could deliver so far is the closure of Islamabad Zoo and Ban on Monal only.
This is what we do with those Pakistanis who do something extra for this country. We make them example for others. Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and President Dr Arif Alvi can see the matter themselves and do the needful.
Tazeen Akhtar 
