ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday stressed the need for reconstitution of a federal commission for much needed revision of over 60-year-old master plan of Islamabad,
The prime minister also called for opening of new and stalled residential sectors and resolving water problem in the federal capital.
The PM issued these directives while presiding over an important meeting on development projects and different matters of Capital Development Authority (CDA). The meeting was attended by Secretary Ministry of Interior Aftab Akbar Durrani, CDAChairman retired Capt Anwarul Haq and other senior officials, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
“Revision of master plan of Islamabad is among the top priorities of the federal government,” the prime minister was quoted as saying.
The prime minister also emphasised upon the need of vertical construction in the new residential projects in Islamabad, and directed the relevant authorities to formulate an effective strategy to woo investors for the business purposes with construction of high-rise buildings.
He also directed the authorities to resolve the water issue of the capital city immediately by ensuring its smooth supply, besides construction of specific buildings (parking plazas) to overcome parking problem.
The PM also asked for an effective mechanism to reduce traffic pressure in the city.
A Greek firm, Doxiadis Associates devised a master plan based on a grid system, with its north facing the Margallah Hills. The long-term plan was that Islamabad would eventually encompass Rawalpindi entirely, stretching to the West of the historic G. T. Road.
According the Greek firm master plan of the capital was to be revised after every 20 years but it has not been upgraded not even a single time since its inception.
Interestingly, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government had also formed a federal commission for revision of master plan of Islamabad in 2018 which presented its report in 2020 and proposed hiring of a consultant for proper revision of the plan.
Later, the CDA issued tender and called application for hiring the consultant but nothing has been done in this regard.
Meanwhile, the term of the members of the federal commission expired and the CDA sent a summery to the Prime Minister Office (PMO) seeking appointment of the new members. However, nothing has so far been done by the PMO in this regard.
PM Kakar in the meeting also termed a controversial Rs3 billion bicycle lanes project as ‘an environmental friendly’ and asked for its completion at the earliest.
He was given a briefing over the bicycle lanes project in Islamabad and federal capital master plan.
Under the bicycle lanes project, a total of 374km lanes and 150 parking stations would be constructed, it was told.
According to the CDA, the authority had asked the Frontier Work Organisation (FWO), National Logistic Cell (NLC), and Railcop to submit bidding documents by Jan 23.
Under this project, the CDA will also promote e-bike service as well and various stations will also be set up for these bikes.
Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2024