11 November 2004	Thursday	27 Ramazan 1425

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: The government is working on a fresh modality to extend the much-delayed Local Government System to the federal capital. Interior Ministry and the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) are finalizing the modality, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao says.

"If all other districts of the country already have LG system, then Islamabad, being the capital of the country should not be deprived of this system," stated Mr Sherpao while talking to Dawn here on Tuesday.

The minister assured that the local government elections in the capital would be held at any cost.

Responding to a question about the modalities, he said these were being set keeping in view the sensitivity of the capital as diplomatic community and parliamentarians live here.

Mr Sherpao allayed the impression that the interior ministry did not want replacement of the present district administration in Islamabad. "The interior ministry might have been opposed the new system in the capital in the past, but I am very clear that this LG Ordinance must be implemented here for devolution of powers at the grassroots level," he added.

According to the NRB sources, the LG polls will be held in the capital and other districts of the country simultaneously in 2005.

Talking about the working of Capital Development Authority (CDA), he said the authority was being restructured and a number of development projects which are being executed would totally change the city's environment within next two years.

The CDA on the instruction of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, would shortly develop new sectors to overcome the shortage of 35,000 houses in the capital, the minister said.

He lauded the efforts of the CDA chairman, Kamran Lashari, in making the city more beautiful and public friendly.

Initially four new sectors would be developed, including the controversial D-12 and E-12, the minister said.

The prime minister, he said, had approved a package at a recent cabinet meeting to compensate the landholders whose land had been acquired for the development of sectors D-12 and E-12.

The interior minister said a committee under his supervision had been formed to make deal with the landholders.

The committee, comprising ministers for housing, information, labour and manpower would set out the modalities to implement the decisions of the federal cabinet within 30 days.

In order to overcome water shortage in Islamabad, consultancy was in progress to get water from Jhelum or Indus rivers. "With the development of new sectors and the decreasing water table require to bringing water from these rivers on permanent basis," he said.

"I have directed the CDA to generate its own resources and make itself more public friendly rather creating problems for the citizens," the minister said.

He said sports activities were boosting up in Islamabad as the CDA had established mini sport complexes in various sectors and a project of water sports in Rawal Lake was ready for implementation.

Mr Sherpao said high-rise buildings would shortly be constructed in the extension of Blue Area and recreation activities would be started soon in F-9 Park. Similarly, restaurants were being established at Pir Sohawa and Daman-i-Koh, he added.