Islamabad: CDA again seeks PM’s advice on Zone-IV

[Naveed Yaseen]

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is likely to move to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani again to seek his advice on regularisation of Zone-IV of the federal capital.

“THe drafting of the policy to regularise Zone-IV is in final stage. Once it is finalised, the document would be moved to the Cabinet Division and later the prime minister for final approval,” said a senior CDA official on Tuesday.

He said the CDA board as well as a committee, constituted for the purpose, is thoroughly considering all ways and means to streamline the illegal commercial and residential constructions in the Zone-IV that was supposed to be kept green under the master plan of Islamabad.

He said the Zone-IV spread over an area of 70,000 acres and more or less 20,000 acres have been encroached by the people by building illegal structures, courtesy to the scarcity of housing units that has touched the mark of 50,000.

This zone comprises Islamabad Park and rural periphery between Murree Road towards north and Lehtrar Road towards south and extending beyond Simly Road. This zone excludes the part of Margalla Hills National Park and Rawal Lake.

Despite repeated attempts, the CDA could not vacate the area from the adverse possession especially in Bhara Kahu and Sohan. The authority had also hired a consultant to seek an expert’s opinion on the plan and now it is searching a way out keeping in consideration the consultant’s recommendations and as well as the protection of natural beauty of the federal capital.

In the preliminary proposals, the consultant, MM Pakistan (Pvt.) had asked the civic body to stick to the implementation of old master plan, prepared by a Greek city planner in 1960.

The firm had suggested that serious efforts should be made to open new sectors in the capital city on emergency basis as the prices of land in Islamabad have risen to their maximum.

It also suggested the concept of multi-storey housing schemes in the capital and in Zone-IV and invited the private sector to lessen burden on CDA to overcome the housing problem here.

The authority is in the process of reviewing ICT zoning regulations, review of master plan of Islamabad up to year 2030 and prepare Master Plan of Zone-IV of the ICT.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=205585