RAWALPINDI: The authorities concerned have been directed to prepare regional development plans (RDPs) for the district of Rawalpindi and peri-urban structure plans for the tehsil headquarters.

According to the RDA spokesman, a meeting for preparation of the RDPs was held at the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA).

The meeting was chaired by Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Saqib Manan while the Mott MacDonald Pakistan company’s consultant gave a presentation about regional development plans and informed the participants that extensive work had been done for preparation of RDPs of the tehsils of Gujar Khan, Taxila, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta and the data had been shared with concerned local governments for verification and inputs.

It was also decided that a coordination committee would be notified comprising planning officers of local governments and RDA for coherent work of urban and regional development plans. The commissioner appreciated work of the consultant and sensitised him that remaining deliverables may be completed well within time in association with all stakeholders and the general public as well.

He directed RDA Director General Mohammad Saif Anwar Jappa to work more on the master plan.

He said the PMU and local government should coordinate with RDA about it.

“We have to complete this work within the shortest possible time frame,” he added.

Mr Jappa told the meeting that the RDA through its consultant was already preparing peri-urban plans and RDPs of four tehsils of Rawalpindi.

He said the PMU of the Local Government Department through the consultant was preparing site development zones and urban planning of the Rawalpindi tehsil. The DG requested that clarification be sought from the local government that which authority would notify peri-urban plans of the four tehsils.

The commissioner agreed with the proposal of the DG and it was decided that in this regard a letter would be sent to the secretary Local Government and Community Development Department Punjab for clarification so that the district plan could have ownership of all stakeholders.

Deputy commissioners of Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, district officers planning of Gujar Khan and Chakwal, director local government, municipal officer planning Taxila and other officials participated in the meeting.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2022