City father’s promises : Provision of clean drinking water govt priority, says Ansar Aziz

Says CCI has accorded approval to project.

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) Mayor Sheikh Ansar Aziz on Sunday vowed that he would fully focus on the issues relating to provision of civic amenities for residents of the federal capital during his tenure.

In an interview with the APP on Sunday, he said that the provision of clean drinking water to the residents was a top priority of the local government.

The IMC mayor said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was taking keen interest in the project and the Council of Common Interests (CCI) in its recent meeting had also accorded its approval in this regard.

He said that a main pipeline would be laid to Ghazi Brotha Dam to meet the water requirement of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi for the next 50 years.

Aziz said that it was the vision of the prime minister to beautify the capital on international standards and added his team would do their best to realise the objective.

He said that provision of basic civic facilities to citizens, particularly overcoming scarcity of water, health and sanitation issues were the top priority of the IMC.

The mayor said that the first business session of the IMC would be held in the mid of the month.

He and the deputy mayors were likely to get powers in the next 15 days, while the whole process of devolution of powers from the Capital Development Authority to the IMC would be completed within two months.

The mayor said that the local government institutions would be easily accessible to public, so they could serve them in an efficient and effective manner.

About transport facilities to the citizens, he said the IMC would run buses on the routes connected with the metro stations.

Replying to a question, Aziz said that for provision of recreational facilities to the residents, the local government would expand the Marghazar Zoo, besides upgrading parks.

Playgrounds in the city, especially those, which had been neglected by the CDA, would be improved so as to ensure sports facilities to youth, he added.

Aziz said that the IMC would introduce a proper taxi scheme in the capital.

To a question about health facilities, he said four small hospitals would be constructed in the city.

The mayor said almost 11,000 employees of various departments of the CDA would be placed at the disposal of the IMC.

Aziz said that a proper solid waste management system would also be introduced for disposal of garbage and its recycling to generate electricity.

He said that the sanitation staff would be divided among the union councils for appropriate utilisation.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2016.