ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers belonging to the PML-N from Islamabad want revival of the multi-billion rural development package which was initiated by the CDA last year and stopped after partial physical progress.

In February last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (during the PDM government) had approved the Rs10 billion package for rural areas of the capital and directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to execute it.

Later, the CDA citing financial crunch split the programme into two phases and started work on a Rs5 billion project in July last year. However, the project was stopped after 43pc physical progress and the work is still incomplete in many areas.

Now PML-N MNAs from Islamabad - Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Raja Khurram Nawaz and Anjum Aqeel Khan - want revival of the package. They visited the CDA headquarters on Friday and held a meeting with its Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa and board members. The meeting was also attended by officials of engineering and environment wing.

Abandoned projects on which 50pc work had been completed will be executed on priority, meeting told

“During the meeting, progress on projects under the Rural Development Package was reviewed. The chairman said financial hurdles affecting the progress would be resolved urgently. The DG Works was designated as the focal point for expediting work on ongoing projects,” said a statement issued by the CDA.

Sources said the MNAs told the meeting that in many areas contractors after partial works had left the sites causing problems for the public. The sources said the meeting decided that abandoned projects on which 50pc work had already been completed would be executed on priority basis.

The lawmakers also demanded the CDA to provide land for new graveyards in rural areas. The issue of transfer of property in unauthorised Ghouri Town and other villages also came under discussion and it was decided that the issue would be discussed again. They also demanded development of greenbelts along Islamabad Expressway like establishing playgrounds and mini-parks and the DG environment was directed to look into the proposal.

Meanwhile, the parliamentarians also asked the CDA to expand the electric bus services to othera areas, mainly on Park Road. The chairman told the meeting that soon buses would be ply on Park Road and some other routes.

Meanwhile, the meeting also discussed the much-delayed revision of the master plan of Islamabad with emphasis on addressing zoning issues and improving building regulations.

They were told by the chairman CDA that the civic agency had moved a summary to the interior ministry for onward submission to the federal cabinet to get approval of the master plan commission’s members. He said after approval, the commission will start work on the revision of the city’s blueprint.

The meeting also discussed issues pertaining to those whose land had been acquired by CDA and who were entitled to get compensations. The meeting was informed that a committee comprising legal and revenue officers had been formed to bring legal reforms without affecting the rights of affectees.

The encroachment issue at Lethrar was also highlighted. The ICT and CDA’s Enforcement Wing were instructed to conduct anti-encroachment operations.

Earlier, the chairman CDA briefed the lawmakers about the initiatives taken by the civic agency this year. Mr Randhawa emphasised the importance of regular meetings with lawmakers to address issues faced by residents of Islamabad.

“The Parliamentarians reaffirmed their commitment to support CDA for Islamabad’s development, beautification, and overall betterment. They expressed their full cooperation for CDA’s initiatives and offered their valuable suggestions to resolve city-wide challenges effectively,” read the press release, adding that it was decided to hold follow-up meetings fortnightly to monitor progress and ensure timely resolution of the issues highlighted in this meeting.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2024