They did the same in Multan and most recently in Kallar Syedan. In Phase IV and Phase VII DHA-I excavated thousands of metric tons of soil, grazing vegetation for local shepherds/animals, natural water channels that feed into the Nala Lai - See Image below: 4000 acres of natural habitat, flora, fauna has been stressed as a result of this expansion which initially started circa 2002 and has been plagued with delays, underbudgeting and legal issues.
Kallar Syedan has the largest concentration of Ranunculus arvensis (buttercups) outside of Kashmir and Norther Areas of Pakistan its vegetation also includes some 22 species of trees.
In addition to domesticated animals that graze the vegetation and shrubbery - Kallar Syedan rests on the Potohar plateau and is host to diverse wildlife which includes wild boars, porcupines, hares, jackals, occasional leopards (endangered and protected animal list) and various species of birds such as partridges, francolins and mynas alongside reptiles such as cobras, kraits and monitor lizards which all thrive in the forested areas - heavily threated due to mass urbanization, habitat loss and poaching. [Source: Pakistan Wildlife Foundation Survey report d.2018]
Interestingly migrating birds can often be seen by keen bird watchers resting near the Nalla Lai area
Photo of Nala Lai taken circa 2001.
The scale of development and loss of natural habitat is worrying to say the least:
DHA Phase 7 - Image taken 2025
To make matters worse the bridge connection Phase 7 to Phase 5 alongside most of Oleander and Lily blocks are built alongside the Rawat Faultline:
Locally known as "Hounds Tooth" this image shows the location of the Rawat Faultline running alongside the border of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Whilst urbanization is required as the populations of the twinned cities grow exceeding the population of that of modern day Los Angles, developers and the federal and provincial government must pay heed to the fact that rapid and uncontrolled urbanization is known to cause habitat loss, light, air, noise and water pollution, resource depletion all of which leads to loss of biodiversity and altered water cycles - these changes coupled with increased energy use and emissions contribute to climate change, urban heat islands and human-wildlife conflict.
