It should be noted here that Monal and Gloria Jeans are situated in Margalla Hills national park area of the Islamabad where commercial and residential activities are prohibited under the environmental laws.
The show cause notices titled “Show Cause Notice upon Non-Compliance of environmental Protection orders” served both to Monal and Gloria Jeans stated that the restaurants were in non-compliance of the Pakistan Environment Protection Act,1997 and regulations made under them. “Hence the EPA issued two environmental Protection orders on 10-02-220 and 10-02-2020 but both time the restaurant and coffee shop failed to comply the environmental laws, rules and regulations” the notice added.
According to the 2020 verdict of the incumbent Chief Justice of Supreme Court Justice Gulzar Ahmad, Margalla Hills, which spread from Islamabad to Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were declared a national park and heritage site and no part of this area could therefore be allotted to any private individual for commercial activity or a private residence.
The EPA in show-cause notice while warning the restaurant over its violations, noted that their attitude regarding non-compliance of environmental laws is not acceptable because they are damaging the environment of the vicinity by not managing solid and sewerage waste of the restaurants.
“The total area of the Margalla Reserved Forest is 17,111 acres, which is surrounded by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rawalpindi and Islamabad as after Islamabad was built, the CDA approached the provincial government of what was then West Pakistan to transfer management of these reserve forests, after which 12,511 acres-11,870 acres of the Margalla Reserve Forest and 641 acres of Banigala - were leased to the CDA in 1961.
An agreement to this effect was signed between the West Pakistan agriculture secretary and the CDA’s horticulture directorate in 1966. In 1980, it was declared a national park.
It should be noted here that Monal restaurant was sealed off by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Islamabad and Chief Commissioner Office Islamabad due to illegal cutting of around 1000 cutting for its expansion of construction activities.
The EPA in show cause notice while reprimanding the owners of the restaurants stated that this agency has left with no other option except to serve upon them this show-cause notice as to why the restaurants shall not be closed/sealed on account of non-compliance of environmental laws.
“Your reply to these show-cause notices should reach this office in within seven days in case of failing to reply shall result in further action under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997.
Naya Daur Media made various attempts to reach the administration of both restaurants but they did not respond.