Capital introduces free burial, funeral bus services

The CDA Board has abolished all charges for grave digging and funeral bus services in Islamabad to provide relief to citizens during times of bereavement.

The board also approved several other measures, including allotment of land for the establishment of an Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) office near the New Islamabad International Airport, adoption of Finance Division rules for the upgradation procedure of Statistical Assistant employees serving in BS-15 and BS-16, and sending a proposal to the federal government to name the Service Road (East) of Sector F-10 after national athlete Arshad Nadeem.

The decisions were taken during the 16th meeting of the CDA Board held at CDA Headquarters on Thursday under the chairmanship of CDA Chairman and Islamabad Chief Commissioner, Muhammad Ali Randhawa. Board members and senior officials attended the session, where multiple agenda items were discussed. It was also decided to provide additional funeral buses for Islamabad's graveyards.

The board deliberated on improving the standards of the Capital Hospital and enhancing its revenue sources. It was decided to review the current fee structure for private patients under the Institutional-Based Private Practice (IBPP) system and to ensure that all income generated by the hospital would be spent on its improvement and provision of better facilities.

Instructions were also given to equip the hospital with new computers and modern devices for digitization and a cashless system.

The CDA Board further approved induction of graduates from top public and private universities across Pakistan for internships at CDA, ensuring merit-based and transparent selection. This move aims to fill manpower gaps in all formations of the authority while bringing in a skilled and modern workforce.

During the meeting, land was also approved for the construction of a new police station in Islamabad, subject to rules and regulations. Approval was granted to sign a lease agreement with the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) for the use of Islamabad's landfill site for municipal solid waste disposal. The extension of RWMC's services for transporting solid waste from Islamabad's transfer stations (I-9, I-11, or other sites) to the dumping ground at Chak Beli Khan Road, Rawalpindi, was also sanctioned.