ISLAMABAD, Feb 2: The development work of Park Enclave housing scheme, which has already delayed, will be initiated by the mid of current month.

The project was launched seven months ago (on July 20, 2011) but its development work could not be started due to 'slackness' of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

"We have realised that the project has already delayed. Therefore, CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal has issued directives that infrastructure work of the housing scheme must be kicked off by Feb 16," the spokesman said.

Park Enclave housing project would involve the construction of 700 houses in phase-I and another 600 houses in phase–II.

An insider said the documentation process for the selection of firm had delayed the development work.

The delay, he said, discouraged the potential investors. Former CDA chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, at the launch of scheme, had said that the CDA would complete the project in a record period of time.

He said a total of 650 people purchased plots in the first phase of the scheme and the CDA received Rs1.734 billion as price of the plots.

Presently, CDA in collaboration with National Engineering Service of Pakistan (Nespak) is evaluating technical bids of four pre-qualified construction firms and financial bids of the firms will be opened in a couple of days.

"We will open financial bids of the firms after evaluating their technical bids," said project director Shahzada Rimal. He said the process to open financial bids of pre-qualified contractors would be started by Feb 7.

According to the laid down procedure, first technical proposals of the bids are evaluated and than their financial bids are opened.

It is expected that the development work of the housing scheme will be completed within one year and possession of plots will be handed over to the owners by February next year.- Syed Irfan Raza