KARACHI, Sept 1: Defence Secretary Lt-Gen (r) Hamid Nawaz Khan has appreciated the DHA (Defence Housing Authority) for attaining the benchmark residential standards on a versatile and progressive housing enterprise of the country.

He was chairing the 20th annual meeting of the DHA's governing body here on Wednesday. Prominent among those who attending the meeting were Corps Commander Lt-Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat, who is also the president of the DHA Executive Board, and DHA Administrator Brig Maqsood Hussain.

Gen Hamid, who is also chairman of the DHA's governing body, expressed his satisfaction over the systematic repair and refurbishment work of civic infrastructure recently started by the DHA in the old areas of the Society. He asked the DHA to ensure timely and top of the line completion in all its undertakings.

The defence secretary was informed that the renovation and rehabilitation work of Phase-I costing Rs200 million was under way whereas similar work in other phases would be carried out as per the programme.

He called for improved security in the Defence area and asked the DHA to attach due importance to it. He advised the Authority to take measures to ensure security at recreational spots and public resorts through better coordination with police.

Gen Hamid told DHA officials to ensure that open plots in the built-up localities were kept cleared from litter and wild growth. Speaking on the occasion, Lt-Gen Ahsan Saleem Hayat held out the assurance that the DHA would execute the futuristic projects in a professional manner to ensure quality and standards.

Earlier, Brig Maqsood Hussain gave a detailed resume of the DHA's performance for the uplift and modernization of the area within its jurisdiction and briefed the meeting about progress on mega projects undertaken by it. At the meeting, the governing body gave its approval to the DHA budget for the year 2004-05. - APP