Corps Commander lauds ‘dynamic master plan’

Karachi—Corps Commander Lt. General Zahirul Islam has commended the team of DHA and consortiums’ experts for preparing a dynamic master plan of DHA City Karachi (DCK). He maintained that it would serve as a role model for other future developments to follow by virtue of its salient features of unique planning and sustainability elements.

He said that DCK project had all the potential to provide an emblem of modern, secure and comfortable living environment to its residents. He was speaking as chief guest of DCK curtain-raising seminar held here at DHA Golf Club Convention Centre on Wednesday. DCK is an upcoming residential-cum-commercial project on Super Highway and the seminar was aimed at unfolding the salient features of its Master Plan along with its development strategy. Administrator DHA, Brig Aamer Raza Qureshi said that objective of the project was to develop a new suburban city of Karachi on latest international standards. He termed DCK as the first planned sustainable and green city of Pakistan. He said that a consortium of leading national and international firms comprising Doxiadis Associates (Greece), RMJM (UK) and Osmani & Company had prepared the DCK master plan in accordance with contemporary town planning concepts in a record period of one year setting the pace for development of the most modern city of the country.

He said that DCK would be made a livable entity in 3-4 years through a development strategy comprising an immediate action plan to make DCK site operational (2011-2012), short-term development plan encompassing primary infrastructure/facilities development (2012-2015), mid-term development plan (2015-2020) and long-term development plan for completion/consolidation of the entire project (2020-2030).

DCK Chief Concept Advisor, Dr. Spiro Pollalis said that DCK master plan maintained the natural topographical beauty of the site by carefully adjusting the housing and other land uses according to the terrain. He said that the entire master planning scheme consisted of sixteen residential sectors planned as mini cities within DCK that would provide all the residential/communal facilities within a distance of 5-20 minutes’ walk.

He said that DCK Transportation Plan consisted of a myriad of road networks, major intersections, collector roads, service roads, roundabout and one way regime to promote the concept of using maximum public transport. He said that the residents of DCK would be encouraged to use public transport instead of private vehicles with stress on development of walking/cycling culture for short distances in DCK. He said that the project would also make judicious use of environment-friendly renewable energy including solar and wind energy farms that would provide the residents with affordable, reliable and pollution-free source of power.

DCK Project Leader, Engr. Arif Osmani said that ingredients such as mixed use districts, neighborhoods, green spaces, community level facilities, educational centers along with sports arenas, theme park, efficient transportation system and sustainable housing etc. constitute the quality that will weave DCK’s urban tissues. Professor Dr. Kodylis said that DCK would encourage economically driven development by providing a variety of facilities such as business infrastructure and work opportunities for its residents. He added that apart from the city wide functionality, an international business approach had been planned in DCK Downtown District where business activities would be hosted with maximum safety.

DCK Project Director Brig. ® Rafique said that balloting for giving plot numbers to 27,000 plots already allotted to public would be held in Feb’2012. He said that Malir River Expressway project duly approved by the Sindh Government and CDGK would soon be executed through public-private partnership that would reduce the travelling time from metropolis to DCK to 30 minutes.