Islamabad’s long-awaited cricket stadium project has moved into a key new phase after two joint ventures qualified for the financial bidding process for the planned venue. According to reports, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), working in collaboration with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has approved the technical bids submitted by the shortlisted groups for the proposed PKR 11.4 billion (approx. US$41 million) project.
The stadium is planned across nearly 50 acres within a larger 175-acre Olympic Village development near the foothills of the Margalla Hills. The project is being executed under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model, under which bidders were required to submit both technical proposals and design concepts as part of the tender process.
The two shortlisted groups include a joint venture involving Habib Construction and ZKB-EA, along with another comprising Lemar Builders, Kingcrete and BK Consultants. Their submitted designs will now be reviewed by a CDA expert committee, with possible input from the PCB before one concept is selected for the next stage of the process.
Once a design is finalised, potentially with modifications, both qualified bidders will be invited to submit financial proposals, with the contract expected to be awarded to the lowest evaluated bidder.
Competition for the project is expected to remain strong because both shortlisted groups have previously worked on major cricket infrastructure developments in Pakistan. One group has been associated with the Peshawar Cricket Stadium project, while the other has experience linked to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium redevelopment.
Environmental concerns emerge around project location
While the proposed stadium site falls within Islamabad’s Zone III, where sports and recreational activity is permitted, the project still requires federal approval for associated commercial development, including hotels and related infrastructure around the venue.
The project has also attracted scrutiny from the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), which earlier this year sought clarification regarding the exact location and environmental impact of the proposed development near the Margalla Hills National Park.
Despite the environmental and regulatory questions surrounding the site, the project has now progressed into the financial bidding phase, bringing Islamabad closer to securing its first major purpose-built cricket stadium.
