KARACHI, Dec 11: The Corps Commandant, Lt Gen Ather Ali, who is also the president of Defence Housing Authority Executive Board, has asked the DHA to launch a concerted cleanliness drive in the authority's jurisdiction , in coordination with the Clifton Cantt Board.

Gen Athar issued these directives while presiding over a meeting of the executive board on Saturday, a DHA press release said.

The board, which met for the first time under its new president, reviewed progress on the DHA mega projects, besides a host of other issues of the authority, and took a number of important decisions for an expedited execution of these projects.

Speaking at the meeting, Gen Athar directed the DHA officials to strive for creating a favourable environment for investors, in order to attract foreign investment, essential for completion of these projects.

The projects include, DHA water front development, Creek City project, and a 300-bed DHA hospital, besides power and desalination plant projects.

Gen Athar stressed the need for consistent policies, midcourse corrections, professional excellence and transparency in the projects undertaken by the DHA.

"It is important to uphold DHA's good name, credibility and reputation at all cost," he said.

He emphasized the need for effective propagation of policies and advertising the projects properly for attracting potential investors and builders.

He also stressed effective dissemination of the DHA's policies among the residents to seek their suggestions and goodwill.

He instructed the DHA management to ensure that the work on repair of broken roads, street lights, improvement in sewerage system and cleanliness of the area, be carried out speedily in order to alleviate the problems of the residents.

Earlier, on his arrival, Gen Ather was received by DHA Administrator Brig Maqsood Hussain, who gave an in-depth briefing to the executive board on various DHA matters and the progress on the ongoing projects.-PPI