ISLAMABAD: In a major decision, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Board on Monday decided to end culture of entry tickets to public parks.

The civic body has been collecting entry fee at two major parks - Lake View Park and Japanese Park - from visitors. The board, which met here with CDA Chairman Noorul Amin Mengal, decided that there should be free entry for the public in all parks of Islamabad.

Speaking to Dawn, the CDA chairman said: “After today’s decision, entry in all parks is free. From Wednesday onwards, there will be no more entry fee.”

He said from Wednesday, in case any official or contractor asks visitors entry fee, they are advised to immediately report the matter to him.

Meanwhile, the board also approved formation of a Vigilance Unit (VU) on the pattern of intelligence agencies to monitor conduct and performance of CDA employees.

The proposed VU will be headed either by a serving army official or Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer, who will be brought to CDA on deputation basis.

Approves formation of Vigilance Unit headed by intelligence officials to monitor conduct of workers

This unit will directly report to the CDA chairman. It will also have access to records of all CDA officers available in the Human Resource Department.

Sources said the Vigilance Unit would investigate allegations against any official and detect corrupt practices. The board was told that the unit will perform its functions independently for reporting non compliance of rules.

The unit will have a director general, a director, two deputy directors, one assistant director and one admin officer. The VU unit will be stationed at some premises outside the headquarters and admin directorate will make arrangements in this regard.

The board also approved bids of previous auctions, which had faced controversy. The CDA had fetched Rs41 billion from the auction of 42 plots last year. Among others, the auction of a 5,952 square yard plot in F-7 portion of Blue Area fetched Rs8.5 billion.

However, there was a controversy over the auction of this plot as the media raised questions about how a plot in this area could be sold off at a relatively lower price compared to those in the F-8 and F-9 portions. Questions were also raised about the formula under which the reserved prices of plots were fixed. Due to this issue, the CDA took a few weeks and finally on Monday, placed the bids before the board, which approved it.

The board was told that auction was held in a transparent manner and all plots received bids above the reserved price.

Meanwhile, the board also approved conduct of another auction of commercial plots, which will exclusively be for overseas Pakistanis.

Sources said that within two months, the new auction will be conducted. Besides other agenda items, the board in principal, approved expansion of Garden Avenue from 7th Avenue to Murree Road and hiring of over 150 buses from a government owned firm. The board also approved construction of five parking plazas in various areas of the city and construction of underpass at Serena Chowk was also approved.

Published in Dawn, February 21st, 2023