RAWALPINDI: On the directions of Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Director General Mohammad Saif Anwar Jappa, stakeholders in Taxila and Kahuta were briefed about the peri-urban structure plans and site development zones.

According to an RDA spokesperson, meetings with stakeholders were held in the offices of assistant commissioner Taxila and tehsil officer Kahuta.

Director Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MP&TE) Mohammad Tahir Meo, Director Land Malik Ghazanfar Ali Awan, Deputy Director Planning Samiullah Niazi, Municipal Officer Kahuta Shamaila Khan and other officers and citizens participated in the meetings.

The spokesman said officers looking after the administrative affairs of Taxila and Kahuta along with the district administration of Rawalpindi and a large number of citizens were present during the meetings.

He said the consultant of Mott Macdonald Pakistan (MMP) gave presentations about the proposals of the peri-urban structure plans and site development zones.

He said the participants of the meetings were apprised of the new urban limits and restrictions. Later, the consultant and the RDA officers also answered questions about the projects.

He said it was also decided in the last governing body meeting of RDA that officers and the in-charges of administrative affairs in tehsils should be informed about the peri-urban structure plans and site development zones.

In this regard, RDA officers have held meetings in Taxila and Kahuta. He said about the master plan of Rawalpindi, the RDA chief said in collaboration with the local government the civic agency was preparing planning documents for 25 years.

He said housing societies and industrial areas will not be allowed outside the development zones. He said as per the directives of the government, areas outside the site development zones will be for agriculture and environment.

The RDA chief has requested that any citizen wishing to give suggestions regarding peri-urban structure plans and site development zones can do so by sending an email through the RDA website www.rda.gop.pk.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2023