ISLAMABAD: The much-needed revision of Islamabad’s master plan has been facing delay as a new commission is yet to be formed.

The revision was planned in December 2018 by then prime minister Imran Khan. He had also formed a commission of experts but a proper revision could not be carried out.

The Greek Firm, Doxiadis Associates, which had prepared the master plan had recommended its revision after every 20 years in accordance with the need of time. The commission formed by PTI government in 2019 after finalising an interim report, mainly dealing with building bylaws, left the revision to a consultant who could not be hired. After the interim report, the commission had almost become inactive.

Meanwhile, after the change of the government last year, the new government decided to go for the revision of the master plan, but so far there is no serious development on it.

An officer of the CDA said that recently a summary had been moved to the government for approval of a new commission. “After getting approval, the new commission will be formed, which will go for revision of the master plan,” said the officer.

It may be noted that successive governments opted for selected changes to the master plan.

Sources said so far over 42 changes have been made by successive governments without any input from professional consultant firms. The PTI government also made some selected changes to the master plan.

About two years ago, the then commission and the CDA had invited bids for hiring a consultant but due to harsh criteria none of the four consortium companies, which had applied, could qualify for getting the contract.

Later, new and relaxed terms of reference (TOR) for hiring a consultant were drafted. CDA officials said after getting approval of new commission, bids will be called under the new TORs.

In the past, two major attempts were made for revision of the master plan – in 1993 and in 2007 - but both the times the proposed revision could not get approval from the federal cabinet.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2023