Land affectees assured of possession

[Salman]

Land affectees assured of possession

ISLAMABAD: On the government’s direction, a comprehensive strategy would be formulated to resolve the chronic problems of the affectees and to remove hurdles in getting possession of land so as to expedite development process in the stalled sectors and opening up new sectors in the wake of increasing shortage of residential areas in the city.
In a meeting with the affectees to deliberate on development of the stalled sectors, Prime Minister’s Task Force on Islamabad Chairman Faisal Sakhi Butt said that the government would not only ensure the payment of outstanding amounts to the affectees but would also pave the way for early payment and compensation on account of built-up property in all the sectors acquired by the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
CDA Chairman Engineer Farkhand Iqbal, CDA Member Estate Khalid Mahmud Mirza, Planning Director General Ghulam Sarwar Sandhu, Land Director Captain ® Fareedud Din attended the meeting organised by the member of the task force on Islamabad, Asad Mumtaz Khan, political and social activist Rizwan Sadiq, Chaudhry Jehangir and Syed Qamar Hussain Shah.
Butt said that development of the stalled sectors was a chronic issue which had multi-dimensional implications not only for the future development of the city, but is also causing serious problems for the CDA as an organisation mandated the task of city development.
He said that the stalled development and inability of the authority to open new sectors had created a backlog of housing units and also multiplied a property rates manifold, causing problems for the people.
Rehabilitation of the affectees was the government’s responsibility so as they could join hands with the CDA to reinforce efforts for development of Islamabad in an effective way, he added. The chairman directed the officers concerned to evolve a workable mechanism and strategise the issue pertaining to the development of the stalled sectors and the problems confronted by the affectees.
He directed them to chalk out a comprehensive programme of visits to these stalled sectors for amicably resolving the issues of the affectees. He also directed to listen to individual complaints of the affectees in addition to collective issues. He called upon the affectees of the stalled sectors to constitute representative committees of their respective areas to negotiate their problems with the CDA. He directed the CDA that the development of the stalled sectors should be immediately initiated without further delay. He also directed that the plight and miseries of the affectees and those of the allottees of the stalled sectors must end as it was almost their third generation waiting for compensation on account of acquisition, as inordinate delay also caused delay in taking over full possession of the acquired land and built-up property.
Faisal Butt assured of full cooperation and assistance of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Islamabad for negotiating contentious issues between the CDA and the affectees. He said that the prime minister took interest in the development of the federal capital and directed the task force to include development in the stalled sectors on priority of its agenda. He said that the task force would also support the authority for opening up new sectors.
CDA Chairman Engineer Farkhand Iqbal said that the CDA would resolve all issues with the affectees amicably and was committed to the expediting development activities in the federal capital. He directed the authority to resolve the issues on priority and initiate development process in the stalled sectors at the earliest. He said that the CDA was already working on a comprehensive strategy for initiating development in the stalled sectors and minimise the problem of shortage of households and commercial areas. He said that on his directions, issues with the affectees of Sector I-11 had been resolved and development activities had commenced after 22 years. He appreciated the efforts of Prime Minister’s Task Force on Islamabad for giving an insight for rapid development activities and extending valuable suggestions for resolving civic issues.
Speaking on the occasion, representatives of the affectees from different areas of the city assured their full cooperation to the CDA for tackling old issues of stalled sector development. They said that they would reinforce the efforts of the authority for development of the federal capital on modern lines.