12-16-2009, 12:31 PM
ISLAMABAD: The piecemeal release of funds by Capital Development Authority (CDA) is impeding the development of Bari Imam Complex. According to an official, the CDA Finance Department releases Rs 1.8 to Rs 2 million every quarter though quarterly allocations for the same are Rs 5.5 million. When asked, he admitted that release of money little by little delayed work and negatively affected its quality. He said the CDA approved the Rs 641 million project in December 2007. He said Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) had agreed to give the CDA Rs 250 million for the project. The official said the CDA launched work on the complex in June 2008 but it had been progressing at a snail’s pace due to unavailability of funds. He said according to the plan, the complex would be built in two phases. In the first phase, shrine, minaret, arcade and allied structure are to be raised at the cost of Rs 302 million during a period of two years, while the second phase to be completed in one and a half years was about constructing a mosque, private rooms, hall for devotees, Aukaf office, main compound and public toilets at the cost of Rs 339 million. The official said the shrine would spread cover 300 kanals and would be built in light of Islamic architecture. He said the complex would accommodate 44,000 devotees at a time. He feared any further delay in release of funds could greatly increase the project cost. Thousands of devotees turn up at the shrine of 16th century saint in Nurpur Shahan from across the country throughout the year. The number sharply increases during the five days annual Urs. fazal sher