ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday directed the city managers to take steps for the restoration of the lost beauty of the capital city and to remove all encroachments on state land.

In his first meeting regarding the affairs of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the prime minister directed the officers of the civic body to take steps for restoring the traditional greenery of Islamabad and to improve the condition of parks and playgrounds of the city.

In the meeting held at Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Khan sought a comprehensive roadmap from the CDA for resolving its issues, mainly encroachment and unauthorised construction. The civic agency was told to provide the said roadmap on Friday.

During the meeting- which was attended by CDA Chairman Ishrat Ali, CDA members, Capital Administration and Development Division Secretary Saqib Aziz and other concerned officials- sources said Imran Khan expressed displeasure over the encroachments on state land in Islamabad and the growing un-authorised construction in the city.

Civic body has been directed to provide roadmap for addressing encroachments, unauthorised construction by Friday

The premier is said to have also pointed to Banigala, where he said he is witness to unauthorised high-rise buildings.

Last year, Mr Khan had filed a petition in the Supreme Court regarding unauthorised construction and encroachments on state land in Banigala.

During the meeting, which lasted for some 45 minutes, the new premier also directed the CDA chairman to take action against corrupt officials of the authority.

Sources said Imran Khan assured CDA of full state support in its drive against encroachments and unauthorised construction. The prime minister directed CDA officers to discharge their duties independently and without fear.

He told the CDA to acquire land, if need be, in its drive for preserving green areas. Sources said the prime minister also expressed concern over the affects of climate change and global warming in Pakistan.

CDA officials are said to have brought up the overlapping of functions between CDA, the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad and Islamabad Capital Territory administration though no concrete discussions were held on this.

CDA officials said that after the meeting on Monday with the prime minister, CDA officers have decided to hold a meeting on Tuesday, which is otherwise an official holiday, to prepare a working plan for submission to the Prime Minister’s Office in the next few days.

During the last two decades, a large number of unauthorised constructions have taken place in the federal capital as CDA’s Building Control Directorate had kept itself restricted to urban areas and sectors till 2016, providing developers in other areas a chance to construct as they pleased.

CDA also did not implement any of its building bylaws in E-11 and H-13, resulting in a mushroom growth of unauthorised high-rises.

Once a green, beautiful city, the capital city is now pockmarked with unauthorised buildings in almost all rural areas as well including Bhara Kahu, Banigala, Lehtrar Road, Tarnol and others.

Sources said that the issue of water scarcity in the capital was also brought up during the meeting.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2018