FAISALABAD: The Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) will launch the Master Plan (2020-2040) next year as it will get final touches within six weeks.

During a meeting with the consultants engaged in the preparation of the plan, FDA Director General Muhammad Suhail Khwaja said on Wednesday that the necessary data and the requirements of further development had been collected and the consultation would also be started with stakeholders very soon for finalizing the comprehensive master plan.

He said as a third biggest city of Pakistan, Faisalabad required sustainable and strong system for advanced development and master plan would provide durable base for systematic rapid development. He said Faisalabad had been named in master plan as “city for all” which would be city of opportunities in socioeconomic development and generation of employments because it was a innovative industrial hub of Pakistan.

The plan is expected to be completed within six weeks and launched next year

He highlighted the objectives of preparation of the master plan and said the strategies would be evolved for the industrial, commercial, economic, agricultural development of the city besides establishment of roads network, transportation, energy, sanitation, waste management, landscaping and other infrastructure by devising principles for the use of land.

The DG said that zoning of the city would be made to facilitate the business community of different sectors for multidimensional development under the proposals of master plan. He said the mega projects of biggest Industrial Estate M- III and Allama Iqbal industrial city would lead to new revolution in Faisalabad and master plan would provide opportunities to push the development activities.

He said the master plan would be launched in the beginning of next year after detailed discussion and consultation with stakeholders. He said the regular monitoring and evaluation of master plan would be ensured and it had also been suggested to review the master plan after every five years.

During the meeting, the consultants informed that the proposal of railways shuttle service from Abbaspur to Sangla Hill on the existing railway track in the middle of the city had also been included to facilitate the worker class for industrial development.

They said that zoning of land use had been proposed besides improving the roads network and transport system. They said that the master plan would be given final touched within six weeks after having the suggestions and other input from the stakeholders including the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2020