ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Saturday said the government was taking concrete measures to bring the rural areas of Islamabad at a par with its urban areas through provision of all basic facilities to the people.

Addressing a PTI public gathering via video link at the newly-constructed PWD Interchange in Loi Bher, he said the government had ensured 50 per cent quota of the residents of Islamabad in federal jobs from Grade 1 to 15.

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan had constituted a commission on Islamabad’s master plan which was working on a plan to end the difference between rural and urban areas in terms of facilities.

The minister said the whole federal capital would be under the mayor of Islamabad while CDA will function as the only regulatory body.

He said the commission will accomplish its plan till June next year and people will witness development projects in the federal capital.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Capital Development Authority (CDA) Ali Nawaz Awan said the government had given a new identity to Islamabad and fully implemented its manifesto.

He said whether it was the city or villages we have changed the federal capital during the last three years.

He said work was in progress and completed on many development projects including Rawal Dam Interchange, G-7 underpass, Burma bridge, Kiani bridge, Malal bridge and the PWD Interchange.

Mr Awan said the PML-N had divisions within it while its supremo had escaped to London. He said the masses were fed up with the PML-N leadership and not ready to listen to them further.

He also criticised the PPP Sindh government, saying people of the province were facing many problems as there was no medicine for the victims of stray dog-bite, acute water shortage in Karachi and no ambulance service available for the people.

He said that even there was no graveyard for the people in Karachi and people were facing hardships.

MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz said people of Islamabad was standing with the PTI leadership and will never support corrupt parties.

He said NA-52 had seen tremendous development work in three years, adding Islamabad would be made a model city in the next two years.

The public gathering was attended by a large number of PTI workers and locals.

They thanked the government for setting up the PWD Interchange.

They said the PWD Interchange will solve the issue of traffic jams faced by residents of Pakistan Town, Bahria Town, Media Town, CBR and adjoining areas.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2021