RAWALPINDI: Divisional Commissioner Saqib Manan on Monday directed Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), Local Government and other departments to prepare peri-urban structure plans as soon as possible.

A meeting for preparation of Regional Development Plans (RDP) for district Rawalpindi and peri-urban structure plans for tehsil headquarters of Rawalpindi district was held on Monday at Rawalpindi Development Authority conference room. The meeting was chaired by the Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Saqib Manan.

Mott MacDonald Pakistan Company’s consultant given a detailed presentation about regional development plans. He said that consultant has worked extensively for preparation of regional development plans of four Tehsils of Rawalpindi which include Gujar Khan, Taxila, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta and has shared data with local governments concerned for verification and their inputs.

It was also decided that a coordination committee will be notified comprising planning officers of local governments and RDA for coherent work of urban plan and regional development plan.

The Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Saqib Manan appreciated work of the Consultant and sensitized him that remaining deliverables may be completed well within time after associating all stakeholders and the general public as well.

He directed the Director General RDA Mohammad Saif Anwar Jappa that RDA should work more on master plan. He said we have to do this work very soon.

The Director General Mohammad Saif Anwar Jappa apprised other members of the meeting and told Commissioner Rawalpindi that RDA through its consultant is already preparing peri urban plans and regional development plan of four Tehsils of Rawalpindi excluding Tehsil Rawalpindi. He further informed that PMU of Local Government Department through Consultant is preparing Site Development Zones and Urban planning of Tehsil Rawalpindi.

The Director General RDA requested that clarification be sought from Local Government that which Authority will notify Peri Urban Plans of four Tehsils. Once work is completed by the Consultant of RDA as RDA is the sole regulator of approving Private Housing Schemes in the District.

The Commissioner Rawalpindi agreed with the proposal of DG RDA and it was decided that that in this regard, a letter will be sent to Secretary HUD&PHE and Secretary Local Government and Community Development Department Punjab for clarification on this legal issue so that district plan should have ownership of all stakeholders including RDA and Local Government Department working at district level.

The Deputy Commissioners of Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, District Officers Planning Gujar Khan, Chakwal, Director Local Government, Municipal Officer Planning Taxila, Director PHATA, PMU, Director MP&TE RDA, Director EM RDA, Director LU&BC RDA, Deputy Director Planning RDA and others participated in the meeting.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2022