RAWALPINDI: In order to finalise the master plan for Rawalpindi for the next 25 years, the district administration will kick-start consultations with stakeholders next week to identify industrial, agricultural, and residential zones.

The work on the master plan started four years ago. Ahead of the Feb 8 elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan stopped the work.

After the new provincial government led by Maryam Nawaz came to power, the work on the master plan started again.

The Punjab government asked the district administration to start the work on the master plan so that the development schemes would be set up accordingly.

Consultations with stakeholders next week to finalise ‘transparent’ development blueprint

The consultant Mott Macdonald Pakistan (MMP) Company is working on ‘Regional Development Plan for District Rawalpindi and Peri-Urban Structure Plans for tehsils of Rawalpindi District (Excluding Rawalpindi Tehsil)’.

The project was awarded on December 16, 2020, and the agreement was signed on December 24 for consultancy of approximately Rs50 million with the project duration set as 12 months.

In September 2023, the time period for completion of the project by MMP was extended.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Aamir Khattak asked the district administration and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) that before giving the final touches to the master plan, all the stakeholders should huddle together to make it transparent. He asked them to finalise the plan after a consultation session with all stakeholders in the next week.

The master planning of Murree should be done keeping in mind its status as a tourist point, he said during a meeting related to the master plan of Rawalpindi along with the station commander.

He said that new urban limits have been created keeping in mind the coming 25 years.

He said that under the master plan, traffic congestion, encroachment, waste management, new locations for food street, relocation of wholesale markets, and beautification initiatives have been planned.

He said that green areas, residential, commercial, and industrial areas have also been identified in the development zone.

RDA Director General Kinza Murtaza, Director Development Nazia Sudhan, Director Local Government Sibtain Kazmi, and other officials participated in the meeting held at commissioner’s office.

Similarly, ‘List A’ and ‘List B’ commercial roads have also been notified in advance.

The structure plan for the site development zones has also been prepared and submitted to the divisional administration for approval.

Economic corridors will be created along the Rawalpindi Ring Road to provide maximum economic opportunities by promoting local industry in Rawalpindi.

The commissioner said that on the proposal of the business community, an economic zone of 5,000 acres will be created in Rawalpindi where locals will set up their factories.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2024