By Pervaiz Mughal
ISLAMABAD: The Galiyat Development Authority (GDA), under the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has signed a 100-year partnership with a private consortium to develop what is being described as Pakistan’s first purpose-planned mountain destination at Thandiani Top.
The agreement is framed within an eco-conservation framework aimed at preserving Thandiani’s natural environment as the area is transformed into a world-class tourist destination. The project’s master plan is currently being prepared by a leading international architectural firm.
“Above Zero” will operate as a four-season mountain destination, presented as a new model for mountain living in Pakistan, with a pedestrian-first public realm, a hospitality district and a residential enclave designed around long-term planning and environmental restraint. The developers say the concept is intended to demonstrate that development and preservation can coexist.
At the signing ceremony, Mohammad Fawad, Director General of the GDA, said the agreement was the first of its kind in Pakistan. He said it would establish a national template for ecological development, regional economic activity and community participation embedded within the contract itself, adding that it would contribute more than PKR 23.2 billion to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with independent technical and audit oversight at every stage.
Following a mandatory environmental impact assessment and regulatory approvals, groundbreaking is expected by late 2026. The project is being delivered by a consortium backed by Tahir Builders (Pvt) Ltd and Qubed Hospitality. Abdullah Khan, Chief Executive Officer of Above Zero, said the initiative should be seen as a standard rather than a project, adding that it could mark a shift in how Pakistan engages with its mountainous regions.
