CDA Deems Monetisation Of Govt Houses Unrealistic

[Salman]

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) declared Planning Commission’s dream of monetising sectors G-6 and F-6 by building skyscrapers unrealistic. The Capital Development Authority also warned the federal government that the authority cannot deal with the increase in demand of civic services which will be brought along by high rise buildings if and when they’re built. This was revealed in a meeting held by the Planning Commission Department. It was headed by its Deputy Chairman Dr Nadeem ul Haq and attended by Housing Secretary Kamran Lashari and Chairman CDA Syed Tahir Shahbaz.

The CDA is currently facing financial crisis due to which it won’t be able to build the required sewage and infrastructure to provide disposal, water, electricity and gas to the new dwellers of these high-rise buildings. At the same time, the urban planning wing of civic agency has already prepared the blueprint to construct skyscrapers in the city.

The skyscraper project is a part of the Planning Commission’s ‘New Framework for Economic Growth’, and would contain apartment buildings and commercial plazas as well as new public sector buildings upon completion. The plan also proposes a special zone, which is to be built over an area of 371 acres with high rise developments like that in Hong Kong.

The monetisation of government houses was approved in April and a complete revision of the existing planning parameters, re-zoning and land reclassification had been expected. An official revealed that CDA will have to upgrade all the facilities and services in order to meet the growing needs. An engineering wing official of the CDA also revealed that currently, Centaurs Tower required around 20 megawatts of electricity and CDA will have to install a grid station to meet its need for more power.

If a few more such towers will be constructed, the demand of electricity would go up and CDA will need more space to install grid stations. Despite all of this, Mr Sajid insisted that CDA is an executing agency of the government and once it is given a directive, it will complete its duty of developing the city on modern lines