ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has announced that it will plant 30,000 plants in Fatima Jinnah Park, F-9, during the upcoming tree plantation campaign starting on February 8.

The CDA also decided to involve the private sector to plant trees in this park and other places in Islamabad under corporate social responsibility (CSR).

“For upcoming tree plantation, we will plant 30,000 plants in F-9 Park only, those companies who want to join hands are welcome but they will have to provide plants having at least 10 feet height,” said a director of environment.

He said that the environment wing, under the direction of Director General Environment Qaiser Khattak, had directed all wings of environment directorates that private firms that want to donate trees under CSR should be asked to provide only those plants or species for which the environment of this region is conducive and friendly.

The sources said that contrary to past practice, CDA itself now provides details of required plants to private companies. On Thursday, at the direction of DG Environment, two letters were sent to two private firms, Park Enclave Housing Scheme and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline, with a list of required plants and trees.

The letter, which was addressed to Park View Society, stated that by keeping the tradition of protecting the green cover of Islamabad with the active engagement of citizens, government bodies, and large corporations, the environment directorate has again embarked on the plantation drive.

“We appreciate the offers made [by Park View] for provision of plants for the above purpose. In order for this donation to be more useful for general public, the environment experts of CDA have chalked out a list of plants/species for which the environment of this region is conducive/friendly. Hence, it is requested only following plants be opted for donation during the current plantation drive,” read the letter, which asked for Chir Pine, Kachnar, Amaltas, Jacarande, Pilkhan, Sukhchayn, Silver Oak, Chinar, Sapium, and Arjan.

Meanwhile, in a letter sent to SNGPL, the CDA, while referring to the ongoing work on gas pipelines, stated that this work [laying pipelines], despite being in the public interest, has its own hazards for the environment.

“Such effects of this work should be ameliorated by joint efforts of CDA and SNGPL” read the letter, which requested the said gas-providing company to provide 10,000 trees with at least ten feet of height.

The CDA provided a list of 17 plants.

Auction fetches over Rs13bn

The three-day auction of commercial plots by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) concluded here on Friday after a mixed response from investors as the civic agency fetched Rs13.4 billion after selling 11 plots.

On the last day, the civic agency auctioned six plots of various sizes, located in various areas of the city.

The civic agency auctioned a plot of agro-farm in orchard scheme Murree Road, measuring 2.5 acres, against Rs400 million, and a plot measuring 133.33 square yards in sector G-11 against Rs164 million.

Similarly, a plot measuring 133.33 in sector I-11 was sold out against Rs114 million, and plots of the same size in sectors D-12 and G-11 were sold out against Rs159 and Rs157 million, respectively. While a plot measuring 611.11 sq yards of the Blue Area G-9 portion was auctioned for Rs1.3 billion.

“In current economic situation and political unrest ahead of general elections, I guess we received good response of investors as we auctioned 11 plots against Rs13.4 billion,” said a director of CDA. Earlier, on second day, the civic agency had auctioned only one plot located in Diplomatic Enclave, measuring 3888.88 square yards against Rs860,000 per square yard with a total cost of Rs 3.3 billion. On the first day, it had auctioned four plots for Rs7.79 billion.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2024