Bani Gala ( ur, ) is a residential area located in

Islamabad Islamabad (; ur, , ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's ninth-most populous city, with a population of over 1.2 million people, and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital T ...

at the eastern bank of Rawal Lake.

History

The residential area of Bani Gala has remained controversial Since its establishment in early 2000, as reportedly some localities were constructed on private land without permission. Moreover, Rawal Lake was being polluted because of construction activity in the nearby areas, commercial fishing, and sewage discharge of Bani Gala and other nearby villages into it.

Capital Development Authority A Capital Development Authority is a special sort of entity found in various countries that is concerned with the municipal development of the capital city or capital territory of that country. Examples include: *Capital Development Authority (Isla ...

vowed to take action against all unauthorised constructions beside Rawal Lake with a view to control pollution in the water reservoir. The locality became famous after the former head of the country's nuclear programme, Dr

Abdul Qadeer Khan Abdul Qadeer Khan, (; ur, ; 1 April 1936 – 10 October 2021), known as A. Q. Khan, was a Pakistani nuclear physicist and metallurgical engineer. He was a key figure in Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program and is colloquially known as the ...

built his house there and since then the issue of "illegality" of the locality had been sidelined. Currently the Bani Gala Mansion, located in residential area, is the official residence of former cricketer and Chairman of

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI; ur, , ) is a political party in Pakistan. It was founded in 1996 by Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who served as the country's prime minister from 2018 to 2022. The PTI is one of the thre ...

and the former

Prime Minister of Pakistan The prime minister of Pakistan ( ur, , romanized: Wazīr ē Aʿẓam , ) is the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen cabinet, despite the president of Paki ...

Imran Khan Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi ( ur}; born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani politician and former Cricket captain who served as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan from August 2018 to until April 2022, when he was ousted through a no-confidenc ...

Development

* Lakhwal Village - that falls on this road - has some residential houses but they have been constructed illegally * 15 minutes drive from Bani Gala is the main campus of

COMSATS The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) is an inter-governmental organization, having a membership of 25 developing countries and one non-state member from three continents, Latin America, Afri ...

, the educational institution and University, * Kinara restaurant is a recent development at Bani Gala which has turned into a beautiful hangout spot at Rawal Lake. * Rawal Lake View Park has been planted with flowering trees and laid out with gardens, picnic spots, and secluded paths. The terraced garden and the lake are used for picnics, fishing and boating. The highest point in the garden offers a panoramic view of the lake,

Margalla The Margalla Hills () are a hill range within the Margalla Hills National Park on the northern edge of Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan, just south of Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They are part of the Himalayan foothills. The M ...

and

Murree Murree ( Punjabi, Urdu: مری) is a mountain resort city, located in the Galyat region of the Pir Panjal Range, within the Muree District of Punjab, Pakistan. It forms the outskirts of the Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area, and is about ...

hills, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Escaped_Budgerigar_resting_in_Bani_Gala,_Islamabad,_Pakistan

* The Korang Tributary is inviting for birds during their usual migrating patterns to/from North and South of Pakistan. This Siberian Bird Migration has several stops around Islamabad on the way to the hotter south. * Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) is located in front of Capital Complex society in Bani Gala, Islamabad, and is spread over 4.5 acres and one of the largest non-governmental organisations working in the field of poverty eradication. *

Atif Aslam Atif Aslam is a Pakistani playback singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. He has recorded many songs in both Pakistan and India, and is known for his vocal belting technique. Aslam predominantly sings in Urdu, but has also sung in Hindi, ...

performed a live musical concert at Beaconhouse Mohranur Campus located in Bani Gala, Islamabad on 10 August 2010 * Upper Bani Gala area lies on South-Eastern edge of Bani Gala and comprises Upper Bani Gala Road and Noor Avenue. It's primarily a residential area situated on a hillock which lies at an elevation between 1800~2000 feet ASL.

Illegal occupation

* A three members bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan

Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry ( ur, ; born 12 December 1948) is a Pakistani jurist who served as the 20th Chief Justice of Pakistan over three non-consecutive terms from 29 June 2005 to 11 December 2013. Chaudhry began practice as an advocate ...

took suo moto noticeLeading News Resource of Pakistan
Daily Times (12 January 2011). over the letter, written by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman

against the illegal occupation of state land by Leader of the House in Senate Nayyar Bukhari and his relatives. In response to Imran Khan's complaint the authority wrote to Khan that his own property, Bani Gala had been built without planning permission. Therefore, Bani Gala is an illegal structure. Justice (r) Saqib Nisar asked Khan/authority to REGULARISE Bani Gala. It is now regularised.

References

External links

Bani Gala's grabbed land retrieved, SC toldTake Bani Gala land back from Bukhari, SC tells CDA
{{Neighbourhoods of Islamabad Islamabad