Rs10.87b allocated for development projects in federal capital

Rs797.19m specifically allocated for public sector development


Our Correspondent June 16, 2019
The National Economic Council (NEC) had approved Rs675 billion worth of PSDP but later the government increased its size to Rs701 billion due to a higher share for the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) PHOTO: EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: Around Rs10.87 billion have been allocated for development projects in the federal capital.

During a presser in Islamabad, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Affairs  Ali Nawaz Awan, added that up to Rs450 million were allocated to the public sector  development programme (PSDP) 2019-20 for construction of the road from Koral to Rawat while the same amount would be shared by the CDA.

He said that completion of the project would alleviate traffic congestion on the related route. Similarly, he said that Rs100 million has been allocated for Burma Bridge, while Rs500 million has been allocated for a new block of Capital Hospital.

Awan said that a signal free corridor worth Rs27 billion would also be constructed in the federal capital.

He said that the last sector in Islamabad was built in 1992. However, Rs1 billion have been earmarked for the development of Sector I-15. Furthermore, funds for Sector I-12 have also been allocated.

He informed that there would be progress in upcoming days for the development of 100 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) water supply project for twin cities.

Moreover, Awan on Saturday said as a part of the government's austerity drive, the civic agency has not proposed any increase in its non-development expenditure during 2019-20.

The increase in "pay and allowances" and "utility charges" would be met from the proposed budgetary provision by adopting austerity measures, he said while addressing a post-budget press conference at the Convention Centre.

He mentioned that in the upcoming budget, special attention was paid to development works in the city which were delayed for many years. Since 1992, the CDA had only handed over possession of D-12's lands to its owners after the development work while all other sectors were yet to be developed, causing a mushroom growth of population in the rural areas of the city, he said.

This year, he said Rs1 billion had been specified for the development of Sector I-15, Rs500 million for E-12 and I-14 while Rs100 million was added in the budget for road refurbishment.

Moreover, a total sum of Rs797.19 million had been allocated for the various Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of the federal capital including Signal Free Islamabad Expressway. It is pertinent to mention that allocations have been made for all the projects for which PC-Is and PC-IIs are approved in the 43rd and 44th CDADWP meetings held within three months.

He said Rs4.5 million funds were earmarked for the expansion of Islamabad Expressway from Koral to Rawat. The CDA would also contribute the same amount for converting the Expressway into 5 Lane Road. Moreover, he said, for the construction of underpasses between Sector F-7/F-8 and G-7/G-8 at Faisal Avenue Rs500 million for each had been earmarked. In this context, the contracts for G-7/G-8 and Park Enclave had already been floated.

Ali Nawaz said wrong policies of the previous rulers had spoiled the beauty of the capital, adding that it was the top priority of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI’s) government to pay special attention to the beautification of the city. "We are bringing reforms in CDA and remedial steps are also being taken to make it a more effective civic agency in Pakistan," he remarked.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16th, 2019.

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