Development project: Blue Area’s expansion to formally begin today

Civic agency to seek expressions of interests through open advertisements.

ISLAMABAD:

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) will formally start the work on Blue Area’s expansion plan on Friday (today). The project aims to address the chronic issue of space shortage for commercial activities in the city.

“The civic agency will seek expression of interest for public-private partnership through open advertisement to expand Blue Area from Khyber Plaza to F-9 Park, where construction of 25-storey buildings would be allowed,” said CDA Chairperson Farkhand Iqbal, while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat on Thursday.

The expansion plan is being done as per the city’s master plan which has already been approved, he added.

Under the plan, all clinics, food outlets and private offices in residential areas will also shift to high-rise buildings, bringing an end to the increasing trend of using private homes for commercial purposes.

The chairman was of the view that the development work would be completed on time with the partnership of the private sector.

The initiative, he said, would not only enable CDA to generate its own income, but also increase business activities in the city.

Apart from that, the chairman informed the committee of setting up two new sectors in the capital to overcome the housing shortage. Besides, two schools will be established in every sector to facilitate residents.

Meanwhile, the committee also formed a sub-committee to reconstitute the CDA Board.

The members objected the induction of a blue-eyed official in the board and recommended to ensure transparency while taking decisions on key issues.

The committee also recommended sharing the board’s decisions with the cabinet and the prime minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2012.