PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: As a federal commission works to revise the master plan of the federal capital, Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed the introduce reforms for education and health sectors in the city as part of the revised master plan.
This was directed in a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan and attended by key members of his cabinet, including Finance Minister Asad Umar, Health Minister Amir Kiyani, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan.
Others who attended the meeting included Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA from Islamabad Raja Khurram Nawaz and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Chief Commissioner and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Amir Ahmed Ali. Ali also chairs the federal commission on the city’s master plan.
During the meeting, the performance of the commission was reviewed.
Imran asked the authorities to speed up development projects in the capital and directed them to revise the plan such that it addresses the needs of the public.
The prime minister further directed that while revising the plan, it should be ensured that no tree or green belt is harmed.
Awan, who hails from the federal capital, said that they were working to bring rapid changes in the plan and disclosed that it would end up changing the current structure of the federal capital.
Based on the premier’s vision, he said that they had accorded priority to the establishment of new health and educational institutions in the city.
In this regard, the premier directed the federal capital’s administration to ensure the enrollment underprivileged children in educational institutions.
Ahmed told PM Imran that they were currently in the process of seeking recommendations and suggestions on the master plan from all stakeholders of the federal capital, including residents, businessmen, and the civil society.
Last month, PM Imran had directed the CDA to allow the construction of high-rises in the federal capital and had asked it to sit with representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to mark areas in the city where high-rises could be built.
CDA to auction plots
In what has now become an annual feature to boost its revenues before the close of the fiscal year, the CDA has decided to auction residential and commercial plots located at prime locations in the federal capital.
The auction will be spread over four days, commencing from April 8 and will conclude on April 11, at the Jinnah Convention Centre. This is in stark contrast to the three-day auctions it has held in the past.
This decision was taken in the meeting of the CDA Board held on Monday which was attended by members of the CDA’s board.
Curiously, this will be the second auction of plots by the CDA in the current fiscal year.
This auction will feature residential plots in the developed sectors apart from commercial plots located at prime locations in the city.
On the first two days, residential plots in the city will be auctioned. The remaining two days will feature the auction of commercial plots in different categories located in the Blue Area, developed market centres, hospitals and class -III shopping centres will also be auctioned.
The auction will be supervised by a high-level CDA committee headed by member finance and comprising members planning, design, estate, deputy director general (law), deputy financial advisor-II, director public relations, directors of regional planning, urban planning, estate management-I, II and deputy director costing.
The committee will submit its recommendations to the CDA Board for approving the bids.
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM IFTIKHAR CHAUDHRY
Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2019.
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