ISLAMABAD: The new Chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA)
Farkhand Iqbal is expected to take charge of his office on Friday.
Former chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi has been posted as Federal Secretary, Capital Administration & Development Division.
The
new CDA Chief would be facing an uphill task in wake of the challenges
confronted to the Authority due to financial constraints.
The
outgoing Chairman, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi tactfully and efficiently managed
the affairs for two and half years despite financial constraints and
mounted political pressures. During his period the focus was shifted
from the cosmetic development to the real issues and concept of the
small is beautiful was introduced.
The critics say that the
personal integrity of Elahi was the dominant factor and there was no
scandal attached to the Chairman.
Talking to Online, Imtiaz
Inayat Elahi said that all the development projects which were in
progress when he took over the charge were completed and development
activities were not halted despite severe financial recession and the
liabilities amounting to Rs. 10 billion were cleared during this period
which were due in the previous regimes.
He said some of the new
projects initiated have been completed including the construction of the
Sawan River Bridge, Service Road West, Lehtrar Road dualisation, Zero
Point Interchange, the work commenced on the Kashmir Highway expansion
project, conservation of the old trees and historical sites. He said the
road map for the launching of the bus service is complete and
advertisement for purchase of the buses is expected soon.
Environmental
conservation, landscaping, upgradation of the small markets,
conservation of historical sites and promotion of tourism were given the
priority. For the first time the Landscaping in G & I series
sectors was carried out.
Capital Development Authority becomes
the first municipality to launch the rainwater harvesting project to
utilize the rainwater to enrich the ground water. The Fire Safety and
Building Regulations - 2010 were notified making CDA the pioneer
Municipality of Pakistan in this regard. Park Enclave-the Environment
Friendly Housing Project was the first housing scheme launched by the
Authority after a gape of twenty years.
The scheme has not given
CDA a financial boost but also would serve as a model for the other
housing schemes. The pre-qualifications of the construction firms for
development of the dream housing scheme has been competed and work would
soon be awarded which would be completed in a year time on design and
build basis. Another housing scheme, the Margalla Retreat was also
launched during Elahi’s regime.
Imtiaz Inayat Elahi initiated
the development of the sector D-12 that is almost complete and
construction of houses has begun. The development of the Sector I-16 is
another credit, which would be completed in six-month time.
On
the directions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, for the first time in
the history of the CDA more than twenty thousand canal of Land have been
vacated from the adverse possession paving the way for the development
of stalled sectors. Financial discipline was introduced in the CDA and
non-development expenditures were curtailed particularly on account of
entertainment charges. Online
