PM wants change in laws for construction
Gilani orders CDA to build housing units in zones where construction is prohibited.
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Thursday to ensure construction of houses in Zone 4. Such an act, would be a direct violation of they city’s construction laws. According to Islamabad Capital Territory (Zoning) Regulation 1992, both zone 3 and 4 are in the National Park Area (NPA), where construction of new houses is prohibited.
The Prime Minister has formed a three-member supervisory committee to change these regulations, so that this construction can be made legal.
If the committee comprising Law Minister Babar Awan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Housing Minister Rehmatullah Kakar succeeds, 50,000 acres of NPA land will be open for the construction business.
CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi told The Express Tribune that CDA was introducing ‘nominal’ changes in the rules for Zone-III on directives of the federal cabinet.
Addressing a ceremony held by CDA to handover documents of plots to 412 widows of deceased CDA employees in Islamabad, Gilani directed CDA to take strict action against the land grabbers and open up new Sectors to provide more residential space for the citizens.
Earlier, in his welcoming address, Elahi told the audience that CDA was going to start construction in the zones 3 and 4 following the premier’s instructions.
When asked about the legality of construction in zone 4 and 3, Elahi claimed that limited construction in the area was not a violation of laws. He also claimed that the construction would affect neither the NPA nor the green image of the city.
Ghulam Sarwar Sindhu, Deputy Director General Planning of CDA, claimed that on April 21, 2010, the Federal Cabinet approved amendments to these regulations.
He said that it was not being done to provide access to influential people. He said that if construction in these zones was illegal, then Bhara Kahu and Khanna Pull were also built illegally.
Social activist Fauzia Minhallah said, “Once construction in these zones starts, it will become haphazard and spiral out of control, the greenery of Islamabad will be destroyed.”
Gilani said, “The death of the bread earner is a major shock for their families, I want CDA to provide them with houses and ensure their welfare.”
He added that the CDA had been directed to initiate low-cost housing while ensuring that natural beauty, cleanliness and the environment were not compromised.
He directed speeding up of work on Sectors I-15 and I-16.
Prime Minister Gilani said the katchi abadis and rural areas of the city needed to be improved and brought at par with the rest of the city. He promised to introduce a proper transportation system in the city. The PM directed use of solar lights and energy efficient systems in the city to save energy. He said that Zero Point Interchange would use lights that save 40 per cent of electricity.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2010.
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Thursday to ensure construction of houses in Zone 4. Such an act, would be a direct violation of they city’s construction laws. According to Islamabad Capital Territory (Zoning) Regulation 1992, both zone 3 and 4 are in the National Park Area (NPA), where construction of new houses is prohibited.
The Prime Minister has formed a three-member supervisory committee to change these regulations, so that this construction can be made legal.
If the committee comprising Law Minister Babar Awan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Housing Minister Rehmatullah Kakar succeeds, 50,000 acres of NPA land will be open for the construction business.
CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi told The Express Tribune that CDA was introducing ‘nominal’ changes in the rules for Zone-III on directives of the federal cabinet.
Addressing a ceremony held by CDA to handover documents of plots to 412 widows of deceased CDA employees in Islamabad, Gilani directed CDA to take strict action against the land grabbers and open up new Sectors to provide more residential space for the citizens.
Earlier, in his welcoming address, Elahi told the audience that CDA was going to start construction in the zones 3 and 4 following the premier’s instructions.
When asked about the legality of construction in zone 4 and 3, Elahi claimed that limited construction in the area was not a violation of laws. He also claimed that the construction would affect neither the NPA nor the green image of the city.
Ghulam Sarwar Sindhu, Deputy Director General Planning of CDA, claimed that on April 21, 2010, the Federal Cabinet approved amendments to these regulations.
He said that it was not being done to provide access to influential people. He said that if construction in these zones was illegal, then Bhara Kahu and Khanna Pull were also built illegally.
Social activist Fauzia Minhallah said, “Once construction in these zones starts, it will become haphazard and spiral out of control, the greenery of Islamabad will be destroyed.”
Gilani said, “The death of the bread earner is a major shock for their families, I want CDA to provide them with houses and ensure their welfare.”
He added that the CDA had been directed to initiate low-cost housing while ensuring that natural beauty, cleanliness and the environment were not compromised.
He directed speeding up of work on Sectors I-15 and I-16.
Prime Minister Gilani said the katchi abadis and rural areas of the city needed to be improved and brought at par with the rest of the city. He promised to introduce a proper transportation system in the city. The PM directed use of solar lights and energy efficient systems in the city to save energy. He said that Zero Point Interchange would use lights that save 40 per cent of electricity.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 12th, 2010.