SAPM promises makeover for capital

Awan says development stopped during IMC mayor’s tenure

ISLAMABAD:

Soon after the departure of the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz’s beleaguered mayor Ansar Aziz, the government functionaries started making tall promises of a makeover for the capital.

Special Assistant to PM on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Ali Nawaz Awan told a press conference on Friday that a target has been set for turning Islamabad into an international city. “Islamabad would get a makeover in the coming months with new infrastructure projects including roads, bridges and improved facilities of street lights, parks, sanitation and transport,” he said welcoming the departure of mayor Aziz.

He claimed that the opposition wants to halt the development, whereas the PTI government has ended the 22-year-old rule of the mafia. The government is aware of the issues of the public and restoring the beauty and the greenery of the federal capital is among its top priorities, he said. The SAPM said that the first elected metropolitan corporation established after the approval of the local government act had snatched Islamabad's 50-year development during its 4.5 years period. He however did not mention that the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation was not given financial resources and CDA kept meddling in its affairs.

Rs250 million project: CDA to start IJP Road’s makeover

The PTI government has done long-term planning for the provision of potable water, restoration of the greenery and beauty of the city, and upgrading the cleanliness system of the city. The results will be visible in next two months, Awan said. He said that the people of Islamabad had voted PTI into power and it would restore the capital's beauty lost in the past 4.5 years.

Sanitation, environment, roads, and water supply roads were non-functional while several areas of the city and its sectors had turned into garbage dumps. The SAPM said that prior to his resignation the Islamabad mayor had handed over all the four directorates to the CDA and accepted that he could not work, thereby has resigned. Within two days of mayor’s exit, all the functionaries started obeying orders and started working.

Furthermore, planning has been done to address solid waste management and environmental challenges. Wild bushes and weed are being cleared while the parks are restoring to their original conditions. The citizens will see Islamabad changing in the next two months. “We are also going for the recarpeting of the important roads.

” Moreover, Aawan said, “we will also establish Water and Sanitation Authority to for Islamabad.” He said an administrative framework will be devised to complete the long delayed scheme for supplying water from Ghazi Brotha to Islamabad. In addition, the water supply system from Simli and Khanpur dam will be improved.

He added that the street lights system will also be turned functional and Islamabad's masterplan will be implemented. PWD Interchange will be completed within five months. G-7, G-8 underpass, and Burma Pull have been completed. Rs2 billion has been spent on the development of rural areas.

He added, work on Rawal Town interchange has also begun, and soon the construction of a 10-km IJP road will begin. "We will also build an underpass near 7th Avenue Abpara. All these projects are of prime importance to the city. We are going to build the Bahara Kahi Pull under a public-private partnership," Awan said adding, "everyone wants a share from Islamabad, but no one is willing to give Islamabad a piece in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award."

The PTI government is introducing a comprehensive system for the health sector, he said apparently referring to the implementation of Medical Teaching Institute (MTI) Act which is strongly opposed by doctors. He said the work on long delayed extension for the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital will start soon for which CDA has provided five acres of land. Earlier Polyclinic extension into Argentina Park was stopped by the court.