ISLAMABAD: The manifesto presented by Mian Aslam, a Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) candidate for both NA-46 and 47 Islamabad, has stated that the most serious issue to be faced by residents of Islamabad in near future will be water shortage and drying groundwater.

Among the mainstream competitors vying for the three seats in the federal capital, Mian Aslam of is the only candidate to issue a localised manifesto in line with the manifesto of his party highlighting the needs and demands of Islamabad.

The manifesto of Mian Aslam stated that unlike traditional cities around the world, Islamabad was not located on the bank of any river; therefore, the recharging of groundwater was limited.

He recalled that when he was the MNA in 2002-07, he had approved a project from parliament and the CDA that would fulfil the water needs of Islamabad for more than 50 years.

“While bringing water from Ghazi Barotha will have a short-term solution, there has to be a long-term solution,” Mian Aslam said, addressing an election gathering near Tarnol. The long-term plan to increase the underground water level in Islamabad includes stopping the flow of sewage into natural springs and filing clean natural water at several small and large ponds to be established in the city where the water will remain for whole year.

The other aspect of his manifesto would be to increase the number of public schools and colleges allowing the residents to send their children to government schools instead of the private institutes.

Similarly, a programme will be implemented for healthcare system as Islamabad needs a district general hospital.

Mian Aslam said Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) was also catering to patients coming from Hazara division, Murree, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

At the same time, the manifesto stated that unlike any other modern city, the Islamabad capital territory administration was not in the hands of any elected government.

Islamabad has a high court, the inspector general of police like a province but it does not have the status of a province administratively. There has to be an elected mayor and union council system of local government which is currently on paper only.

The JI candidate suggested that an amendment to the law was needed to reduce the powers of the chief commissioner Islamabad and transfer them to the elected mayor.

To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website here for candidates.

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2024