PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
A project management cell is also being enabled so that citizens' problems can be resolved under a one-window operation.
This was stated by RDA Chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza on Thursday while addressing the business community at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI).
The RDA chairman said that his office will collaborate and interact with key stakeholders and the chamber for development work under the Glorious Rawalpindi project.
He appreciated suggestions from RCCI for beautifying, improving and refining the city and resolved to work together with all stakeholders.
Under the Green Rawalpindi Plan — which is partly backed by the chamber, Murtaza said that trees will be planted across the city and particularly on the Grand Trunk Road.
RCCI President Saboor Malik said that the Ring Road project represents the future of the garrison city. By relocating the cottage industry of the city, grain markets, furniture and marble workshops will help lower the traffic burden in the city.
Suggesting that parking plazas should be built to service different markets of the city, he said that a comprehensive plan should be prepared to address the persistent issue of encroachment.
“A Safe City Project like that in Lahore must be replicated in Rawalpindi at the earliest,” Malik urged. He further urged RDA to enhance its capacity to provide maximum facility to the public.
“No-objection certificates (NOC) for high-rise buildings should be issued without any hassle and buildings codes and by-laws should be amended as per the demands of the city, the RCCI chief urged.
Moreover, the businessmen suggested that RDA acquire land to set up a new cemetery and to ensure that access to the graveyard is made easy.
RCCI to be represented on the board and all public projects must be completed without any political affiliation, they suggested.
Illegal construction
Separately, the RDA continued its crackdown on illegal constructions in the city and demolished two building apart from sealing a showroom in different areas of the city.
RDA Spokesperson Hafiz Muhammad Irfan told the media that RDA's Building Control Wing has been actively cracking down against illegal commercial and residential construction activities including plazas, shops, schools and other encroachments within the jurisdiction of the authority.
RDA Metropolitan Planning and Traffic Engineering (MP&TE) Directorate’s staff, with assistance from the concerned police station, carried out the operation and demolished two buildings and sealed a showroom.
RDA authorities on the directions of Director General Tariq Mehmood Murtaza took action in this regard. The authority is actively conducting operations against illegal commercial and residential constructions including encroachments within the area falling in its limits, the spokesperson said.
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