| Fatima Jinnah Park | |
|---|---|
| فاطمہ جناح پارک | |
 | |
 | |
| Type | Public |
| Location | Islamabad,Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 33°42′07″N73°01′22″E / 33.7020763°N 73.0227451°E /33.7020763; 73.0227451 |
| Area | 304 hectares (750 acres) |
| Opened | 1992; 33 years ago (1992) |
| Designer | Michael Japero |
| Etymology | From the name ofMādar-e MillatFatima Jinnah, sister ofMuhammad Ali Jinnah |
| Administered by | Capital Development Authority |
| Open | Year-round; 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. |
| Status | Operating |
| Parking | Available |
Fatima Jinnah Park (Urdu:فاطمہ جناح پارک), also known asCapital Park orF-9 Park, is apublic recreational park that spans the whole of Sector F-9 ofIslamabad, Pakistan. It is named afterMādar-e MillatFatima Jinnah, the younger sister of the founder of PakistanMuhammad Ali Jinnah.
At 304 hectares (750 acres), it is just smaller thanNew York'sCentral Park.[1] It was designed by Michael Japero, and was inaugurated in 1992.[2] The park’s original master plan, prepared by theJapan International Cooperation Agency, was revised in 2005 by Pakistani architectNayyar Ali Dada.[3]
Fatima Jinnah Park's vast acreage is mostly covered by greenery, with a few man-made structures dotting the landscape. Most of the park area is effectively a wildlife sanctuary, except for a few areas of the park that are close to residential districts. The park is bounded by a steel fence with entrance doors placed at regular intervals, although only a few are routinely open and used. A further strip of land outside of the fence is lined with a footpath. A well laid network of footpaths lies inside the park, with neat grass and a few statues.
Since the park is bounded by a steel fence on all four sides, entrance is possible only through the gates, at least one of which is present on each side.
A network of jogging tracks connects the abovementioned gates. Moreover, there is amosque, parking lot, and public toilets at every entrance.
Only a few areas of Fatima Jinnah Park are man-made, containing busy clusters of buildings, while other areas rarely see human activity. The park's open spaces are commonly used for recreational walking and outdoor sports. Occasionally, they are used for driving lessons.[6] The following man-made buildings are located inside the park:
Originally known as Mega Zone, this complex was renovated and inaugurated as Leisure Arena on 21 December 2019.[7] It includes a sports zone with a standard-lengthswimming pool, agym, and tables fortable tennis andsnooker. The complex also includes facilities forbowling,arcade games,laser tag, and other games; areas forfast food and dining; and an assortment of shops for clothes, DVDs, and other items.
TheSupreme Court of Pakistan ordered aMcDonald's fast-food restaurant and several clubs, such as an Aeromodeling Club, that had been operating inside F-9 Park to close down.[8] However, these establishments are still operational as of 2023.
In 2017, F-9 Park converted to solar energy with 3,400solar panels installed on an area of around five acres inside the 750-acre (300 ha) park at a cost of $4.8 million. Funds for the project were provided by the Chinese government as a grant. These panels generate about 0.85megawatts (850 kW) of power and have a backup facility to provide energy to street lights. The system runs water pumps and sprinkler systems for the park, and provides power for the offices of theMetropolitan Corporation Islamabad andCapital Development Authority, both located within the park.[9]
In May 2021, a mass coronavirus vaccination centre was opened in the Citizen Club building inside the park. The facility has 75 counters, and can inoculate 7,000 people daily.[10] Moreover, in June 2021, a drive-through vaccination centre was opened in the park in collaboration withMinistry of Health,Capital Development Authority, and theBank of Punjab.[11]
The 2025South Asian Athletics Federation (SAAF) Cross Country Championships were held at Fatima Jinnah Park on 23 February, in which Pakistan, the host nation, clinched double gold in the senior 10 km and junior 8 km team events. The championship was supposed to take place in 2024, but was delayed due to adverse weather conditions at that time.
The event saw attendance from high-profile dignitaries, with ambassadors from Sri Lanka and Nepal, as well as senior diplomats from the Maldives and Sri Lanka. It was Pakistan's first time hosting the South Asian Cross Country Championship.[12][13][14]
Over the past few years, the lack of repairs to the south-eastern side of the fence has enabledillegal cutting and transportation of trees.[15]
TheCapital Development Authority (CDA), which manages the park, has grand plans for the space, which is sometimes called the "sleeping heart" of Islamabad. The issue of the park's development is more pressing now that the people of Islamabad have taken a keen interest in recreational activities. The CDA's proposed future design for the park will include lakes, rock gardens, aquariums, and fountains.
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Fatima Jinnah Park is spread over 750 acres.