ISLAMABAD: The city managers have finalised a plan to sell Jinnah Convention Centre (JCC) under the government’s privatisation policy.

The plan was shared with the participants of a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday.

Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Amir Ali Ahmed briefed the meeting on matters related to the development of the capital, including opening of shelter homes, development of parks, removal of encroachments, construction of roads and development of slums.

“Plan for privatisation of Convention Centre has been finalised and the money to be generated through its sale will be utilised on development projects,” the CDA chairman told the meeting.

Amount to be generated through the sale of building will be utilised on development projects, CDA chief says

He said a plan had also been devised as to how the money generated from the sale of the centre would be spent on development activities.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, during a press conference held recently, had said the government wanted to sell the convention centre as it was running into heavy ‘losses’.

The federal cabinet in November last year decided to form a new body called Sarmaya-i-Pakistan Company (SPC) to decide the fate of 195 sick units, including the Pakistan Steel Mills, Pakistan International Airlines and Pakistan Railways.

Prime Minister Imran Khan is the head of the board of governors (BoG) of the company. Three federal ministers and seven experts from the private sectors would also be part of the board.

Anti-encroachment drive

According to an official handout, Prime Minister Khan directed the CDA chairman to get state land vacated from land grabbers and encroachers without any discrimination.

The CDA chief informed the prime minister about the operations in different places including Siri Saral (E-12) and in the vicinity of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU).

He said land worth billions of rupees along Grand Trunk Road, Malpur and Korang had been vacated.

He said 60 parks were improved and half a million saplings planted in the city.

Mr Ali said three shelter homes had been established in Tarlai, I-11 (Pirwadhai) and Peshawar Mor (G-9).

The prime minister said high-rise buildings would be built in the slums and the dwellers would be provided low cost apartments there.

*Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2019*