Slow pace of development in Sector D-12 irks MPs

Seek details of <br /> CDA’s land transfer deal with army for new GHQ.

ISLAMABAD: A panel of parliamentarians has expressed dissatisfaction over progress of development work in Sector D-12 and sought details from Capital Development Authority (CDA) regarding allotment of land to army for construction of new General Headquarters (GHQ) Complex Islamabad.

The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat met at Parliament House with Senator Talha Mehmood in the chair on Thursday. Senator Mehmood said that CDA started development work in 1988 which had not been completed so far. He was also annoyed over incomplete roads, water, electricity and gas infrastructure.



He directed Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited managing director and IESCO chief to be present in next meeting of the committee.

Senator Mahmood also sought details regarding allotment of land to army for construction of new GHQ complex in D-11.

CDA was reportedly planning to allot over 1,000 acres of land to the army for the construction of a general headquarters (GHQ) and other military offices in Islamabad.

He said that CDA had been clearly directed to complete Margalla Road as soon as possible because traffic rush on Kashmir Highway would be increased extremely, after New Islamabad Airport would become operational.

Chairman of the committee said that Margalla Road was only 8.5 kilometres long, but after its construction half of traffic of Kashmir Highway would be diverted to it.



He directed CDA to resolve all impediments in construction of Margalla Road with consultation of Islamabad administration and local associations of builders and developers.

The committee also took up the issue of allotment of land for National College of Arts (NCA) Rawalpindi in Islamabad. The committee was told by NCA officials that they wanted to shift college from Rawalpindi to Islamabad, subject to availability of land.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2017.