RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) on Wednesday approved setting up of economic zones along Ring Road which will be controlled by the civic body’s zoning regulations.

This was decided at the 49th governing body meeting of the RDA which was presided over by its chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza.

The meeting was attended by MPAs Latasub Satti, Haji Amjad Mahmood Chaudhry, Nasreen Tariq, RDA Director General Ammara Khan, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood and others.

Though the Punjab government has yet to start the process to procure land for the proposed Ring Road Project, the RDA governing body declared the area along the Ring Road as city limits.

Under the plan, Punjab government will execute the project through Lahore Ring Road Authority instead of Rawalpindi Development Authority. It has already notified Rawalpindi’s commissioner as project director.

Zones will be controlled by the civic body’s regulations

A formal notification for setting up of the economic zones will be issued by the Punjab government.

Future construction activities within these zones would be controlled in accordance with the principles of town planning and zoning regulations, the governing body said.

The governing body also approved RDA City, a 3,000-kanal residential project.

The project will be LDA-style and for this purpose governing body has made a five-member technical committee under the supervision of MPA Latasub Satti.

The committee will compile its report on the acquisition of land for RDA City project and other matters within fifteen days.

A short-term consultancy was also approved for this housing project to prepare a feasibility report aimed at identifying location suitable for the construction of RDA City.

The RDA director general presented each agenda before the governing body. Agenda items in detail were approved after questions and answers from various members.

Feasibility study for construction of metropolis zone along with New Islamabad Airport was also approved.

Besides this, hiring of a survey company was also approved which would determine encroachments along Leh Expressway.

Approval was also given to construct buildings on RDA approved commercial roads in accordance with the new building bye-laws so that the construction industry could flourish.

Wasa Managing Director Raja Shaukat Mehmood submitted TORs for the services of a private company for recovery of WASA arrears which were also approved by the Governing Body.

Sports allowance like LDA was also approved for employees of RDA and Wasa.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2020