* PM’s Task Force on Islamabad wants CDA to make city problem-free for residents

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Task Force on Islamabad has asked the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to adopt a result-oriented approach to resolve the “chronic issues” regarding the city’s development, and provide quality civic amenities to the residents.

Task force chairman Faisal Sakhi Butt held a meeting with CDA Chairman Engineer Farkhand Iqbal Board and senior officers, assuring support of the task force in achieving targets set by the prime minister. Members of the task force – Nargis Faiz Malik and Asad Mumtaz Khan – were also present. Faisal Sakhi Butt said that the development of the stalled sectors is a chronic issue which, he said, has multi-dimensional implications not only for the future development of Islamabad but also for CDA.

“The plight and miseries of victims and allottees of the stalled sectors must end now as it is their third generation waiting for the compensation on account of the land acquisition and the dream houses,” he said, adding, “Development of the stalled and new sectors, including D-13, E-13 F-13, I-17, must be initiated without any further delay and schedule.”Sakhi Butt said the allied road infrastructure should be completed at earliest to facilitate the development process. He said the CDA should also announce housing schemes for people with low income. He said that the system of satellite imagery might be adopted for effective monitoring of the acquired land in different areas of the capital.

He said that the problems of the kachi abadi and model villages must be resolved on a priority and workable solutions to these problems must be sought. He said that budget should be enhanced for the maintenance of government flats and provision of civic amentias in the Gen I series sectors.

“Concrete steps for the cleaning and up-gradation of drains in the city must be taken,” Sakhi Butt said, adding that encroachments in the markets were also posing problems for the residents. “Coordinated efforts should be made for the removal of these encroachments in collaboration with traders and market associations.” The task force chairman also called for the construction of a modern slaughterhouse in the city, saying that the existing slaughterhouse was no more functional. He also asked the CDA to build halls beside graveyards to facilitate funeral services.

Sakhi Butt called upon the CDA administration to establish a weekly bazaar near Tarnol and expedite work on the Sagjani fruit and vegetable market. The members of the task force said that solid step should be taken for commencing an improved public transport system in the city. “Expression of Interest should be sought from reputed companies for running the public transport in Islamabad,” they said. The task force chairman said a comprehensive campaign against polio should also be launched in the capital. Engineer Farkhand Iqbal said that the CDA administration is fully committed to resolving problems of residents, adding that it would appreciate valuable suggestions of the task force in this regard. He said that CDA was formulating a workable strategy to develop the stalled and new housing sectors. “We are facing financial constrains, but this will not be allowed to become a hurdle in resolving problems of residents,” he said.