ISLAMABAD: PM asks CDA to open new residential sectors

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday directed the Capital Development Authority to improve its development programme and chalk out a strategy to improve its financial position while making civic body more public friendly.
Addressing a meeting at the CDA headquarters, the prime minister also directed the CDA to launch a viable transport system to meet the travel needs of the growing population in the capital.
The prime minister said that there is a need to open new residential sectors in the federal capital and the CDA should take immediate measures in this regard. He said the CDA should also devise a strategy to evacuate state land from the occupation of land mafia.
He said that the CDA should also work on provision of proper civic facilities in the ‘katchi abadis’ of the capital and take steps to shift these slums to proper places.
Prime Minister Gilani said it appears that some unscrupulous elements within the organisation are working in connivance with land-grabbers. Non-development of Sector E-12 for the last many years is an example.
“I will urge the CDA chairman and his team to lay special emphasis on getting these areas vacated from un-authorised occupants so that the designated sectors may be developed to ease the pressure on the existing ones,” he said.
He said the federal cabinet has revised the Zoning Regulation to discourage the growth of unplanned development of housing societies and emergence of shanty towns. “It is your duty to check these trends and make the city liveable for our future generations,” he added.
The prime minister said, “Another issue which the CDA is facing is the limited capacity of the organisation to handle disasters, like the earthquake in 2005, fire in Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, Air Blue Crash and even the recent heavy rains. I was upset to note that major roads of the city were inundated this summer that caused traffic mess, due to lack of a proper sewerage system. City managers were seen helpless during these times. As guardian of public services, CDA should equip itself with modern machines and capacity so that it could tackle any untoward situation, whether man made or natural.”
Gilani said Islamabad is also going through shortage of water, and in certain areas there have been complaints of sewerage water contaminating potable drinking water.
“It appears that old sewerage lines have not been replaced. I will urge upon you to carry
out a survey of all the sectors and ensure that these worn
out pipes are replaced,” he added.
Besides, he said complaints of supply of contaminated water through CDA’s filtration plants need to be attended to, as improper functioning of these facilities play with the health of the citizens and should be taken seriously.
The prime minister said the efficient and decent public transport system in Islamabad is virtually non-existent and if the present trend of urbanisation continues then problems of traffic management will compound, especially for school-going children and low paid government employees. “I will ask you to explore the possibility of addressing this problem through introduction of a decent public transport system. There should also be emphasis on creation of parking facilities,” he added.