ISLAMABAD: A meeting between parliamentarians including a federal minister and top management of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) on Thursday emphasized the importance of effective coordination in resolving the problems faced by Islamabad’s residents of rural and urban areas.
A delegation including Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Khurram Shahzad Nawaz and Member of National Assembly Anjum Aqeel Khan met Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa here at the CDA headquarters. Tariq told The News that the meeting discussed development related issues. He said the meeting took up matters regarding infrastructural development and issues of rural areas.
The minister said it was not the first meeting with the CDA management, adding that both sides regularly met with regard to solution to Islamabad’s issues. CDA board members and senior officials from relevant wings of the CDA were also present, the CDA spokesman said in a statement.
The CDA chairman said the role of Islamabad’s parliamentarians was important in the ongoing development projects and the progress of both urban and rural areas. Randhawa said all possible efforts would be made to ensure the provision of funds for completing ongoing projects as per law.
The meeting discussed the beautification and horticulture work on the Islamabad Expressway’s greenbelts as well as the provision of sports facilities under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In line with the direction of the chairman CDA, the DG Environment was appointed as the focal person for optimizing the use of existing and new parks, greenbelts and open spaces.
Additionally, a discussion was also held on upgrading various highways and construction of new highways and underpasses. The CDA chairman apprised the delegation on the recent establishment of the Islamabad Water Authority to resolve water and sewage-related issues. Similarly, a decision was made to allocate land for new graveyards in Islamabad, with suitable land to be identified for this purpose.
The parliamentarians emphasized the effectiveness of electric buses in Islamabad and called for expanding their routes and were assured that the existing routes would be reviewed, and new routes would be introduced based on citizens’ travel needs. The meeting included a briefing on a crackdown on illegal constructions and encroachments in Islamabad.
It was decided in the meeting to establish a follow-up mechanism to regularly review progress in resolving the issues faced by the residents of Islamabad’s urban and rural areas, ensuring timely solutions to all relevant problems.