Save capital’s green areas: PM

Directs authorities to act against land grabbers

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan said Islamabad is the only city in Pakistan built under a complete plan but unplanned growth has marred its beauty.

He directed the Islamabad authorities to take measures to save the green areas of the federal capital from encroachers and grabbers.

The premier expressed his opinion while chairing the weekly meeting of the National Coordination Committee for Housing, Construction, and Development on Thursday.

The prime minister said that as enhanced economic activities was the need of hour, the construction sector had a vital role in keeping the country's wheel of economy running.

He directed that the provision of facilities for the various industries allied with construction sector should be ensured.

The meeting was attended by Information Minister Senator Shibli Faraz, PM’s Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain, PM’s special assistants including Malik Amin Aslam, Shahbaz Gul, Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Waqar Masood, federal, and provincial Secretaries and senior officers.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Reza Baqir informed the participants that the banks have broadly met the quarterly targets set for housing and construction. He added that instructions have been issued to the banks to provide more facilities to the customers in this regard.

SBP governor said that more than 100 SBP officials were doing "mystery shopping" at various banks daily to gather and ensure information about the facilities available to the customers of housing finance.

Further, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed apprised the participants that the process of digitising of land record was in full swing and assured that it would be completed by the end of this month. With the completion of this process, the people will be freed from making unnecessary visits to the land revenue offices.

CDA chairman told the meeting that the authority has received maps of four out of 12 commercial plots auctioned in New Blue Area, adding that the construction work will start soon.

Prime Minister Imran Khan said that it was very important for the country to keep the wheel of the economy moving particularly at this time. He added that the role of the construction sector is very important in employing unskilled labour. Moreover, he said the construction sector supports over 70 downstream industries like cement, iron, paint, plumbing, hardware and others.

He told the meeting that the government's job is to facilitate the industries that generate employment opportunities and spur economic activities.

In an earlier meeting the premier directed the authorities concerned to control the unwieldy expansion of Islamabad, which has seen its population double over the past two decades and to turn it into a model for the rest of the country.

PM Imran had emphasised the provision of basic amenities such as clean drinking water and transport to the locals of Islamabad and adjoining areas. He emphasized on making Islamabad a model city equipped with improved health, transport and educational facilities for its residents.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2020.