The district administration of Islamabad has slapped a ban on a wide range of activities and items in Margalla Hills to curb forest fire, littering, and air pollution,  the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday. 

According to an official notification, the ban comes into effect immediately and will remain in place for two months in Margalla Hills National Park (MHNP). 

During this period, BBQs and bonfires will be prohibited in the MHNP. 

Smoking, burning and littering of garbage/plastic, carrying flammable items such as lighters, charcoal, matchsticks, bottles of petrol/kerosene oil, and cutting of trees have also been banned in the MHNP.

Violators will face criminal proceedings under the Code of criminal procedure 1898, the notification added. 

Islamabad’s administration has ordered the publication of this order in the Official Gazette and in local newspapers as well.

Last year, Islamabad’s administration also enforced a ban on all sorts of recreational activities in MHNP to avoid forest fires in the protected area.

The decision was taken after the Ministry of Climate Change, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Environment Wing complained to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Islamabad that recreational activities by visitors led to wildfires in MHNP.