Gilani vows to infuse life into Islamabad

[Naveed Yaseen]

Performs groundbreaking of Rs2.34 billion Zero Point interchange

Muhammad Anis
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that he would take personal interest in development projects of the federal capital.

“I have especially come here because it is the project of Islamabad, which is capital of Pakistan and a capital reflects image of a country,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Zero Point interchange held at the National Monument here on Thursday.

The prime minister said that the cabinet secretary or chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) could have inaugurated work on the project, but he preferred to come to perform the groundbreaking.

He observed that Islamabad would no more remain a graveyard of pensioners rather it would be more alive and cultural city. “In the past, the city was so dull that it was called graveyard of pensioners. It used to give a deserted look, especially when government employees left the metropolitan for their native towns on the eve of Eidul Fitr,” Gilani recalled.

He observed that the federal capital was beautiful and lovable having natural scenic beauty. “When Afghan President Hamid Karzai came to Islamabad a couple of days back, he compared Islamabad with beautiful cities of the world,” Gilani said.

The prime minister directed the CDA management that the capital of Pakistan should be a city of education, a city of art and a cultural city. “Along with putting life into Islamabad and development of infrastructure, I also want the authorities to address the issues of water shortage, development of slums and environment-friendly CNG buses,” he said.

On the occasion, Gilani recalled his long association with Islamabad, saying that the city is not new for him. Expressing his love for Islamabad and appreciating its beauty, Gilani said that had he not a politician, he could have been an architect.

He mentioned that as federal minister for housing in the Junejo cabinet, he selected the site of the Prime Minister House and monitored work on the Parliament House and Faisal Mosque. “When Ziaul Haq asked as to why the site of the Prime Minister House has been selected at a higher point than Aiwan-e-Sadr, I could not find any other answer and told him that the prime minister is always an elected representative,” said Gilani in a lighter vein.

Prime Minister Gilani further recalled that as housing minister he initiated residential schemes for government employees through the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation in Sector I-8 in 1987.

Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said that his presence at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Zero Point interchange reflected commitment of the government that it wanted to give practical shape to mega development projects.

He directed the CDA management that the common man and motorists should not face inconvenience during development work at the site of the Zero Point interchange.

Giving details of the project, CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari said that the project costing Rs2.34 billion would be completed in two years.

He said that the CDA was finalising details of the project for many years but now it had become a reality. In this connection, he mentioned names of two former senior officials of the CDA — Brigadier Nusratullah and Mian Moinuddin Kakakhel — who were directly associated with the project.

Lashari said that the civic body has been working on beautification and development of Islamabad for the last few years and so far no project had been undertaken which could be violation of the federal capital’s master plan.

He said that during last few years the CDA had completed construction of 7th Avenue, 9th Avenue and 3rd Avenue besides expansion and rehabilitation of Margalla Road, Faisal Avenue, Nazimuddin Road, Fazal-e-Haq Road, Ibne Sina Road and various other projects.

He informed that the underpass and roundabout of the flyover-cum-underpass project at the Citibank Chowk would be opened for traffic by the end of this month while the flyover would also be completed in three months. He said that the project of expansion and rehabilitation of the Islamabad Highway would also be completed before Eidul Azha. The prime minister unveiled a plaque to mark the groundbreaking of the mega project.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=135366
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* Gilani orders CDA to address issues of water shortage, development of slums
* CDA makes comprehensive diversion plan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday performed the groundbreaking of the Zero Point Interchange (ZPI) and said that he would be paying special attention to development projects in Islamabad.

In a ceremony held at the National Monument, Gilani said he wanted to see the capital become a truly modern metropolis, one that’s alive and culturally active. “Islamabad will no more be a graveyard for pensioners but it will now be a more vibrant city,” he said.

Gilani pointed out that his presence at the ceremony reflected the government’s commitment towards giving shape to mega development projects. “Anyone else could have done the groundbreaking but I chose to come here myself to do so,” he said.

Delayed for years because of design and funds, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) awarded the contract of the Rs 2.3-billion project to Maqbool Associates, a Karachi-based company.

Gilani directed the CDA to ensure that during the course of construction, motorists and other road users did not face inconvenience.

Diversion plan: It is understood that the CDA has made a comprehensive diversion plan with proper roads and culverts to be provided. This plan, officials said would be implemented stage-wise because construction on the project too would be done in three phases.

The interchange would have three major loops of 90-metre radius and the facility would eventually solve the problem of congestion at the troublesome intersection where an estimated 300,000 cars pass through daily.

Water shortage: Along with development of infrastructure and making Islamabad a lively town, the Prime Minister called upon the authorities to also address the issues of water shortage and development of slums besides introducing environment-friendly CNG buses.

Gilani said he has had a long association with Islamabad that has seen him work as a Housing Minister in the Junejo Cabinet. “If not a politician, I would have been an architect,” he said recalling the projects he handled as the minister, among them the Prime Minister’s House, Parliament House and the Faisal Mosque.

He said that as the housing minister, he also initiated housing schemes for government employees through the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation that launched Sector I-8 in 1987.

CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari said the ZPI would be completed in two years. He specifically mentioned the names of two former officials – Member Planning Brig Nusratullah and Member Engineering Moinuddin Kakakhel, who were directly associated with the project.

Lashari made it clear that whatever development had taken place in the city in the past few years was strictly in accordance with the Islamabad’s Master Plan. He mentioned the successful completion of the 3rd, 7th and 9th Avenues besides a string of other projects.

Lashari said the Faisal Avenue underpasses and roundabout would be opened to traffic later this month while the actual flyover would see completion in another three months. The Prime Minister unveiled a plaque to mark the groundbreaking.

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