The famous F-9 Park in Islamabad is set for a major upgrade, with the federal government planning to develop resembling London’s Hyde Park.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced the plan while speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Kashmir Chowk Underpass project.
He said the government wants to make Islamabad greener, more modern and more attractive for residents and visitors.
Naqvi also announced plans to build a safari park, which he said could become the largest in Asia. Another public park, similar in size to F-9 Park, is also planned for the capital.
The interior minister promised to make Islamabad three times greener before the current government leaves office.
However, he did not announce a completion date for the F-9 Park upgrade or the proposed new parks.
New parks and major development plans
The government is also working to modernise Islamabad’s public services.
Naqvi said the digitalisation of land records would be completed by the end of 2026.
He also discussed two other projects being supervised by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry.
These include making Islamabad plastic-free and turning the capital into a cashless city. Both initiatives are expected to be completed by the end of the year, according to the minister.
The minister also referred to preparations for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit scheduled for next year.
Kashmir Chowk Underpass
Previously, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also laid the foundation of the Kashmir Chowk Underpass. Estimatedly, the project costs around Rs1.4 billion.
The project is expected to ease traffic congestion at one of Islamabad’s busiest junctions. Officials aim to complete it within one month.
Naqvi said the underpass and Islamabad Expressway improvements could reduce travel time between Islamabad and Rawalpindi from 30 minutes to around 16–18 minutes.
Naqvi also criticized PTI’s long-march politics. He urged citizens to judge elected representatives by their development work rather than political protests.
Meanwhile, officials have yet to announce the full design, budget or completion schedule for F-9 Park’s transformation.