27 January 2004	Tuesday	04 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Jan 26: Corps Commander Lt Gen Ahsan Saleem Hyat, who is also the president of DHA Executive Board, has directed the DHA administration to focus all its energies on the improvement of roads, water and sewerage system, and provision of electricity in Defence.

He issued these directives during his visit to Defence Housing Authority office on Sunday. He gave the guideline policy, charting the future course of action and directions for the authority.

The corps commander asked them to work dedicatedly and with a sense of commitment to turn the DHA into a most dynamic and responsive organization. He emphasised the need for maintaining the highest housing and environmental standards, which should serve as a benchmark for quality community living.

He directed the DHA management to undertake development works as a whole and not as a piecemeal so that the results could be clearly visible on ground. Lt General Ahsan Saleem stressed for establishing mosques in Defence in accordance with the master plan. He said the mosques in Defence must not be allowed to be used for spreading hatred, sectarianism and extremism, contrary to the real spirit of Islam.

He asked the DHA management to ensure stoppage of unnecessary drains and wastage through proper planning of the development projects, and subsequently enhance revenue generation of the organization. He also directed the management to reduce the time for approval of construction plans in order to spur development and construction activities in Defence.

He asked the management to undertake development projects with a professional approach so that the same could be completed within the stipulated time without compromising on technical specification. He said that the DHA must deliver and maintain its highest quality standards to uphold its reputation and credibility.

The corps commander was given an in-depth briefing on various development projects of the DHA, including water front development, creek city, power and desalination plant, race course ground project encompassing botanical garden and IT complex, carpeting of Korangi road and renovation of old phases of Defence.

He was informed that all groundwork and preliminaries for launching the DHA power and desalination plant had been completed. The construction work at the site would commence in September this year. He was further informed that the commercial operation of the plant would be started in August 2006. -PPI