KARACHI, April 24: The scheduled completion of the desalination plant by the end of the year 2006 and the ongoing work on a host of development projects would transform Defence Housing Authority into a most prestigious residential estate in the country.

The outgoing Corps Commander, Lt Gen Syed Athar Ali, stated this while addressing the last executive board meeting of his tenure at DHA main office on Monday.

The corps commander, who is also the president of DHA executive board, termed sanitation and security in DHA as the two grey areas, which needed to be tackled with an innovative and dynamic approach on war footings.

The executive board approved establishment of a haematological complex by Fatimid Foundation and a modern cancer hospital by Shaukat Khanam Memorial Trust in Defence.

It was also decided that four hi-tech surveillance cameras would be installed forthwith at critical entry points in Defence and the effectiveness of DHA Control Centre would be enhanced through intensive and close coordination with civil police to curb the ever-growing incidence of lawlessness.

The board enunciated a progressive forward looking policy which envisaged employment of mechanical sweepers, daily removal of garbage from all roads and initiation of cleanliness campaign to bring about a quantum and tangible improvement in general sanitation condition in Defence.

DHA Administrator Brig Maqsood Hussain assured the executive board that work on the refurbishment and revamping of the infrastructure in DHA Phase-I including carpeting of all roads would be completed by July 2006 positively.

Lt Gen Athar Ali said that inordinate delays and abrupt disruption of project work midway cause negative optics and disillusionment in the residents. He asked the DHA to ensure stringent scrutiny and intricate deliberations in a professional manner while formulating initial contracts to avoid recurrence of any problems at a later stage. He stressed upon DHA staff the need to maintain transparency and quality in all their undertakings.

The corps commander said that 12,000 acres of land acquired by the DHA astride the Super Highway would be developed as a modern satellite town; self contained in all civic services. He said that the upcoming DHA-II would have a separate and dedicated organisation to execute its affairs.

Administrator DHA in the end thanked the outgoing Executive Board President Lt Gen Syed Athar Ali for his guidance, direction and vision, which greatly helped the DHA in realization of its objectives. —APP