ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) board on Tuesday approved a summary, which allowed the civic agency to set up an information technology park inthe proposed Ladies Club building in G-10. The building had been lying vacant for over a decade.

A pitch has been drafted by the IT wing of the CDA in this regard, which proposed that instead of a ladies club or gymkhana, the administration should use the building as an IT park. The board approved the summary and directed the CDA to ensure early functioning of the F-9 Citizen Club and Gandhara Heritage and Culture Centre.

The CDA board, which met with Chairman Anwarul Haq in the chair, took several other policy decisions including hiring of consultants for land use planning and infrastructure design for Kuri Enclave Housing projects and for development of Kuri model village.

The CDA was also directed to get the PC-I approved by the Departmental Working Party meeting for having dedicated cycling tracks on various roads of the city.

It is relevant to note here that the construction of the Ladies Club in G-10 began in 2007 but after three years, work on it was abandoned following the completion of the grey structure and civil works. Since then, not a single step has been taken to make the building functional for citizens.

Initially, the contract for this project was awarded against Rs182.8 million and work was started in January 2007. It, however, was suspended a month and a half later and the building was subsequently redesigned by the consultant. Two additional basement floors were added to the original plan and the cost was revised to Rs335.7 million. However, finishing touches inside the structure were halted due to so-called financial constraints in 2010. Still, there is no progress.

The CDA officials said millions of rupees had already been spent on construction work while the building stands on a plot worth billions of rupees.

“Keeping this project abandoned for years is negligence which warrants proper inquiry. The CDA should carry out finishing work as soon as possible to put this building to use,” said an official.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2023