ISLAMABAD: Federal Ombudsman Syed Tahir Shahbaz has directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to digitise its record by Sept 30.

He asked the civic agency to provide an access road to the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority’s (FGEHA) Bhara Kahu scheme on a priority basis.

The ombudsman also asked the CDA chairman to take strict measures and ensure completion of all codal formalities of the regulators - CDA or any other authority - before starting any new project or housing scheme either by the government or private sector. The ombudsman was chairing a meeting of the CDA to review progress of ongoing projects in Islamabad.

CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed gave a briefing to the ombudsman on the projects. He said more than 2,000 flats were under construction in I-15 and Cat-I flats had been completed whereas flats of Cat-II were under construction and 70pc work on parks and other facilities had been completed. He said process of giving possession of these flats would start in December, adding that work in C-15, E-12 and I-12 was underway and its possession would also be started soon.

Work on Margalla Highway has commenced which would connect G.T. Road and M-1. He also said work on I.J. Principal Road and Bhara Kahu bypass had been started while construction of Rawal Dam Chowk and 7th Avenue interchanges were underway and PWD interchange was near completion.

The CDA chairman said unnecessary committees in CDA, including the fraudulent committee and scrutiny committee, were being abolished and the entire system was being simplified to facilitate citizens.

He said a one-window facilitation desk had been established in G-7 where all facilities would be provided soon, as the entire record of the CDA was being computerised.

He also stated that under the direction of the federal ombudsman, maintenance work in parks had almost been completed.

The ombudsman also asked the CDA to resolve issues of other private sectors such as Jinnah Town and Ghauri Town because complaints were being received from the residents of these towns daily.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2021