ISLAMABAD:
Due to the on-going sit-ins and delay in approval of the civic agency’s current year budget, different development projects have hit snags.
A senior Capital Development Authority (CDA) official said the civic agency was supposed to start work on many ongoing and new projects, but the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek sit-ins, coupled with delays in the approval of the civic agency’s budget by the cabinet division, have forced their deferral for the time being.
He said that the CDA’s Rs45.8 billion budget for the current year has been forwarded to the cabinet division but is still awaiting approval.
The official said that a contractor could not start work on the Park Enclave project despite shifting machinery to the site as the CDA has not yet paid for the work. He said the authority was expecting to start work on the project before August 14.
Similarly, work on the realignment of 7th Avenue has been put on hold due to the political standoff.
According to the official, work on Kuri Model Village could not be started either.
Plots auction postponed
The civic agency was supposed to hold an auction of commercial and residential plots in different sectors, but it has been on hold due to the protests.
The CDA official said that through auction of plots, the civic body was expecting to generate Rs3 billion to Rs4 billion. According to the official, the auction of all plots in sectors E-11, F-11 and 30 residential and six commercial plots in Sector D-12 have been postponed.
CDA Spokesperson Asim Khichi said that work on the development projects has been put on hold for the time being due to the uncertain political situation in the capital.
He said that work on these projects would be initiated next week after the CDA’s budget was approved by the cabinet division. He also said the plot auction would be held on September 10.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 31st, 2014.
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