Capital Development Authority (CDA) has approved the work plan for improvement and up-gradation of the environment of the federal capital to be carried out at a cost of Rs. 800.00 million
Chairman, CDA, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi approved the plan consisting of
around 200 small projects including both hard and soft landscaping of
Class-III shopping centers, improvement of side slops of main avenues,
interchanges, improvement of lawns and medium strips, cleansing of
nullah, improvement at Zoo, construction of sit out areas, development
of parks and establishment of Nurseries at different places.
As per work plan Rs. 434 million would be spent on the on going
projects whereas Rs. 366 million would be spent on the new schemes.
Chairman, CDA, visited different parks and avenues inspected the
trimming work of grass and bushes being carried out by the Environment
Wing and also visited block plantation sites in Mulpur Area to monitor
the growth of saplings planted during last planting session.
Speaking on the occasion Chairman CDA said that improvement and
up-gradation of the environment is the top priority of the Authority as
Islamabad has a unique green character which needs to be protected and
preserved.
He said that CDA is taking concrete measures in collaboration with
the partner organizations to increase the green cover and to preserve
the rich biodiversity inhabited in the Margalla Hills National Park
(MHNP). The targets for planting the saplings has been increased from
0.8 million to 01 million a year.
The Chairman CDA said that Islamabad is the only planned city of
Pakistan and its green character distinguishes it from other cities of
the country as well as on the globe. He said, “Today’s Green Islamabad
is the outcome of laborious and consistent efforts of CDA employees,
which they made during the last 50 years in planting, protecting and
nourishing the trees in the capital”.
The Chairman CDA, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, said, CDA is working hard to
increase the green cover and preserve the green character of the
Federal Capital. CDA is focusing on planting the indigenous species,
especially fruit and flowering trees including Chir, Pine, Kachnar,
Amaltas, Dhreak, Jacaranda, Olive and Jaman etc.
He said that strict monitoring of the planted saplings is being
carried out to ensure their maximum survival. The Chairman said that
CDA actively participates in National Tree Plantation drive during each
planting season and also invites general public, educational
institutions, NGOs, government employees traders, environmentalists and
members of the sectors citizens committees, representatives of ICT
administration, Islamabad Police, to make these campaigns a success.
The Chairman said that the national park makes the city unique as
the national park is abundant with of 616 plant species, 250 of birds,
38 of mammals and 13 species of reptiles. Collective efforts would help
preserve the rich fauna and flora of the area as there are very few
capital cities in the world that are blessed with such close proximity
to nature as Islamabad.
CDA is taking concrete measures not only to protect the species
inhabited the area but providing educational and recreational
facilities to the residents of the twin cities and those visiting the
federal capital. The CDA has devised a strategy to preserve the
centuries old trees located in both rural and urban areas of the
federal capital at a cost of millions of rupees.
Under the plan, the civic agency would preserve 2,400-year-old Sadhu ka Bagh and Shah Allah Ditta caves.
Besides, centuries old trees of different species including Date
Palm, Kau, Phulai, Banyan, Mango and Peepul would also be protected
under the same project.
The project initiated in the vicinity of Shah Allah Ditta would cost
Rs 26 million in total out of which Rs 19 million would be spent on the
preservation of Saadhu Ka Baagh.
The same site also consists of Stupa, old mosque and a Boally and a
pond at Bun Faqiraan and the CDA has decided to preserve all of these
sites to attract the visitors.
In total, CDA would preserve 150 sites that also include 13 sites where hundreds years old Bunyan Trees exist. SANA
