ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Wednesday issued a number of directives to the city managers during his maiden visit to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) headquarters, including launching of F-13 residential sector for the low income group and executing a number of projects for the city.

Talking to mediapersons following his visit, the minister said the civic body had been asked to launch F-13 for the low income group besides focusing on stalled sectors. He said the new sector, which would be inaugurated on March 23, would have flats for people belonging to the labour class.

The minister also announced that services of all contractual CDA employees would be regularised.

It may be mentioned here that F-13 is a land sharing sector of the CDA. In 2008, the civic body had announced award of the sector under land-sharing formula. However, the CDA could not proceed after announcing the award.

According to the land-sharing formula, landowners get a developed plot of one kanal from the CDA against four kanals of their land.

In his press briefing, Mr Ahmed also appreciated performance of the CDA chairman, member finance and other board members.

Directs construction of 7th Avenue Interchange, rehabilitation of I.J. Principal Road; orders regularisation of contractual CDA employees

He said it had been decided to build the 7th Avenue Interchange on the junction of the avenue and Srinagar Highway near Aabpara, rehabilitate I.J. Principal Road, and expedite (ongoing) work on Islamabad Expressway. He added that all 240 parks of the city would be restored within two months.

Mr Ahmed also announced that slums dwellers living in F-6 and F-7 would be shifted to I-9 and Farash Town where they would be accommodated in flats, initially against nominal charges and later given ownership rights.

The minister also directed that a sector be launched for journalists, and those who did not get plots in the past would be accommodated.Mr Ahmed said Eagle Squad, which would have 100 motorcycles, would be launched in Islamabad to fight crime.

Earlier, the interior minister was briefed by CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed and the board members on the civic authority’s overall functioning, performance, issues and projects during his visit to the headquarters.

During the meeting, sources said the minister was informed about the ongoing and upcoming projects and was told that CDA had a surplus of Rs31 billion in its account and the amount would be utilised on public welfare projects.

He was briefed that PC-I of the 7th Avenue Interchange project worth Rs2 billion and rehabilitation and expansion of I.J. Principal Road at a cost of Rs6 billion had been passed by CDA-Development Working Party in October this year. At this, the minister directed the CDA to expedite efforts to call tenders to start the two projects as soon as possible, the sources added.

The minister was also told about the proposed 10th Avenue Project, the abandoned F-9 Citizen Club, Culture Complex and G-10 Ladies Club.

He asked the civic body to explore options to bring the buildings in use.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2020