Haphazard construction damaged capital’s beauty: Imran

PM chairs meeting to review master plan of the federal capital

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said chaotic construction in the federal capital by previous governments had led to problems of city management, besides causing huge damage to green belts.

Chairing a high-level meeting at the PM Office to review Islamabad's master plan, the prime minister said reduction in the green belts across the city has had a negative impact on the environment of the federal capital and has in turn contributed to climate change.

The prime minister mentioned pollution and climate change as the major problems of the country that needed urgent attention.

He regretted that issues related to the administration of cities, including the federal capital which had expanded with an explosion of its population, had been totally ignored in the past.

The premier stressed the need to review the master plan of Islamabad and directed to finalise a new set of by-laws as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, he directed that measures should be adopted which secure green areas, he added.

The prime minister mentioned that under the Naya Pakistan Housing Project, a plan was under consideration to provide facilities to the residents of slums to improve their lifestyle.

‘The only way to build is up’

Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Amir Ali Ahmed briefed the premier over the ongoing plantation drive in the federal capital.

PM’s Special Adviser Zulfiqar Bukhari, MNA Asad Umer, CDA Chairman Aamer Ali Ahmed and experts associated with the professions of construction, town planning, environment, law and others participated in the meeting.

Detailed discussions took place over the lack of planning and irregular constructions which has created problems for the people.

The meeting also took up environmental and administrative problems of the federal capital.

PM Imran said that in the past few years there has been an abrupt increase in the population of Islamabad which has created management problems for the departments concerned.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3^rd, 2019.