ISLAMABAD, June 4: The Capital Development Authority will recruit 250 people in its environment directorate to strengthen fire-fighting system at Margalla Hills, sources from the CDA told Dawn on Tuesday.

Of the 250, about 200 people will be appointed as forest guards and deployed at different pickets established on the hills. Applications have been invited through advertisements in national dailies.

Director general environment CDA, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said the directorate had been suffering from shortage of staff for the last many years, while Capital’s population had increased manifold.

He said the environment directorate required some 600 more personnel to fill the required and sanctioned posts and 250 were being inducted at the moment.

He said the CDA would not spend additional money for the salaries of the new staff as the budget of the environment directorate already covers the salaries of vacant posts, which is sent back to the CDA exchequer.

The official said the directorate was finding it difficult to maintain green areas besides Kashmir Highway and Islamabad Highway because of the shortage of gardeners.

“Only 10 gardeners were working in F-9 Park while 100 gardeners were working at Iqbal Park at Lahore which is much smaller than F-9 Park.” The official said a comprehensive plan has been chalked out for the prevention of fire incidents on the hills.

He said committees have been constituted comprising local villagers of Margalla Hills so that they cooperate with the forest staff and keep a watch on those involved in setting fires on the hills.

The forest department staff has been equipped with sophisticated equipments and ten vehicles for patrolling the area and taking immediate steps to control fire.

The CDA spokesman said arrangements have also been made for preventing and controlling fire incidents in the vicinity of Noorpur Shahan during the Urs of Hazrat Bari Imam.

He said the forest staff on Monday held two people and foiled their attempt to set fire on Margalla Hills near Lohi Dandi, a cliff located over Bari Imam Shrine.