Islamabad: Bani Gala picnic spot to be opened soon

[LahoreEstate]

Monday, September 07, 2009
Noor Aftab

Islamabad

The Bani Gala picnic spot is going to become another spectacular recreational facility in the federal capital, as renovation work on the site will be completed soon after Eidul Fitr at a cost of Rs60 million.

The picnic spot, generally dubbed as naturally built facility, were closed for the general public after the advent of the holy month of Ramazan for renovation work that is nearing completion.

At the distance of 15-minute drive from the commercial hub Blue Area the Bani Gala picnic spot would certainly have a great attraction for visitors due to its unique and awesome location.

Until recently, the people can only pay visit during daytime as there were no light poles in the facility and it was quite difficult for them to walk or trek easily due to low-visibility in the evening time.

The recreational facility would have Arabic-style huts and food court, named Kalam Club, where visitors would be served with traditional food items of all the four provinces.

The ongoing construction work has a special focus on environment-related issues and no construction material such as sand or cement is being used for renovation.

A big boat is also being prepared that would have proper seating arrangements for those who would like to spend some time in the middle of the Rawal Lake.

Though all other recreation facilities including Lake View Park, Rawal Dam Promenade, Daman-e-Koh and Fatima Jinnah Park are open for each and every one, the Bani Gala picnic spot would be reserved only for families, apparently to provide much congenial environment to visitors.

The picnic spot caught the attraction of the visitors a couple of years back when the Capital Development Authority (CDA) made some landscaping work and set up wooden huts along with a temporary food stall.

The one of the main features of the spot is its natural location that only needs environment-friendly renovation work to become a fascinating recreational facility for the visitors.

Liaquat Ali Khan, a contractor assigned with the task of renovation of the spot, told ‘The News’ that the work would be completed at the end of this month and the facility would be opened for the visitors after its formal inauguration.

The spot has been provided by CDA while the contractor who hails from Swat is investing the capital in line with the understanding made with the civic authority.

“We are going to make it one of the beautiful picnic spots and visitors would certainly find something different not yet introduced anywhere in the capital city,” he said.

He said a transformer would be installed near the spot and there would be proper lighting facility in the evening time.

Liaquat said the Arabic-style huts have been exported from Dubai that would help provide some unique environment for nature-loving people.

He said some 30 to 40 security guards would be hired to ensure complete protection of the visitors who would be able to throng the spot in well-protected environment.

“As it would be reserved for families so there would be a state-of-the-art fun area for children that have many attractive facilities for them,” he said.

http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=197147