Sector I-9 union council finally gets an office

Mayor vows to solve problems of the area’s residents, expand CDA model school

ISLAMABAD: Over a year after the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) formally started work, local government representatives in the Union Council for Sector I-9 have finally found dedicated work space.

Islamabad Mayor and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Sheikh Anser Aziz inaugurated offices for the union council in Sector I-9 on Sunday.

He said that the IMC was taking measures to ensure availability of basic amenities in densely populated residential sectors of the capital to bring them at par with other, more endowed sectors. “These basic civic facilities have been neglected in the past,” Aziz said.

He added that the IMC had started phase-wise work on building a roadmap for development in the city.

“Financial discipline in IMC, assurance of good governance and solution to longstanding issues are my priorities,” Aziz said, adding that stable financial outlook of the authority to make it self-reliant was their priority.

“We have carpeted 116 kilometres of road in the capital from our own available resources, which helped save millions of rupees,” he said.

Moreover, Aziz promised to introduce modern facilities at the under-construction dispensaries in the capital, including services which the residents can avail at their doorstep.

Talking about the development of Sectors I-9 and I-10, Aziz said that 70 per cent of carpeting work on roads in these sectors had been completed. He added that facilities such as street lights and availability of clean drinking water would also be ensured in these sectors.

Further, he said that as per the demand of Sector I-9 residents, the CDA Model School would be expanded. Initially, Rs30 million for expansion of the school had been released, and tender for construction had been floated.

“Construction work would hopefully be started [on the project] in the ongoing month,” he hoped.

He also promised to solve issues of people living in the slums in Sector I-9. In that regard, he said that they were devising a comprehensive strategy with elected representatives to submit their suggestions to finalise the plan. Earlier, Sector I-9 Union Council Chairman Sardar Mehtab Ahmad told the mayor about the problems residents were facing in his union council.

He said that their struggle would continue against elements who want to create uncertainty and instability in the country.

Prior to the inauguration ceremony, a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers convention was held which expressed solidarity with premier Nawaz.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2017.