No more profiteering in the name of development

[Salman]

No more profiteering in the name of development

Committee demands report regarding illegal development of new housing societies in capital

Senate Committee on Cabinet Secretariat Thursday expressed concern over illegal development of 40 housing societies in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and asked Capital Development Authority (CDA) for a detailed report.

The Senate committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Kalsoom Parveen including members Dr Saeeda Iqbal, Haji Saifullah Khan Bangash, Kamil Ali Agha, Begum Najma Hameed, Muhammad Talha Mehmood.

It discussed the matters related development of different housing societies in ICT and Metro Bus Service project with revised lay-out plan.

The CDA chairman briefed the committee that Metro Bus Project envisages an approximate 22.5 kilometres route starting from Flashman Hotel on Murree road to Faizabad from Faizabad-IJP-9th avenue Secretariat with 24 stations on the route. He told that the project will be executed by the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA), which has engaged NESPAK as consultant for the design and supervision for the project.

Chairman of Committee Senator Kalsoom Parveen said that if Metro was designed to facilitate the people, then environment, green belts and other issues should be thoroughly reviewed.

The committee suggested constituting a sub-committee comprising three members, Dr Saeeda Iqbal and Najma Hameed under the chairmanship of Senator Kamil Ali Agha, to find out the issues regarding Metro Bus Project.

Senator Talha Mehmood said that the total cost of the project was Rs 45 billion; if it was completed within given timeframe, then it will provide a better facility to the people.

Kamil Ali Agha said that bus project should be developed underground to save green belts and to check pollution in the capital. On the development of new housing societies Kalsoom Parveen expressed displeasure and said that some societies were developed without getting NoC from CDA. It was a clear violation of the rules, he added.

http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2014/03/...velopment/