Aerotropolis planned for ‘future’ Rawalpindi
The Abu Dhabi-bound flight made an emergency landing at Lahore airport following the incident
The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Tariq Murtaza said that special economic zones would be included in the newly-planned ‘aerotropolis’ in the garrison city.
An aerotropolis is a metropolitan subregion whose infrastructure, land use, and economy are centered on an airport. It fuses the terms "aero-" (aviation) and "metropolis".
He shared this in meeting a delegation of a town planning firm, Sheher Saaz Company at the RDA office on Sunday.
Murtaza said that aerotropolis would play a vital role in the development of the city as it would include mining, oil refinery, petroleum, engineering, technology park and residential establishments.
He directed the delegation that there should be no ponds and plantations in the zone as it would attract birds and cause accidents. He added that the installation of barbed wires is important to stop domestic animals from intruding the area.
RDA chairman commented that the business community is the backbone of the country’s economy and that they are taking measures to facilitate it as per the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
He further said that the project concept to covert winding lanes of old bazaars of the old city area to pedestrian-only heritage trail got official nod on Wednesday.
The special city beautification committee has approved PC I for the conversion of streets passing through different old markets into proper walking streets. The 2.5km long-stretch of lanes and streets from Bhabhra Bazaar to Raja Bazaar passing through Sarafa Bazaar, Dangi Khoi, Kalan Bazaar will be converted into a proper walking street.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 11th, 2021.