proposal by saying that “mere assessment of one-time revenue generation by CDA at the cost of dismantling NARC which has been established over a period of time with investment of billions of rupees and is generating regular benefits worth billions of rupees through R&D work is a myopic idea.”
In support of its arguments, NARC has listed its projects that contributed around Rs3000 billion to the public exchequer by improving crop yield, vegetables, gardening, poultry, seeds and fighting the diseases plaguing crops.
It argues that if generation of funds is the only reason for closing down a national icon like NARC, will CDA also close down the equally important institutions like Quaid-i-Azam University, International Islamic University, NUST, Allama Iqbal Open University and excellent facilities like Sports Complex, Islamabad Club, Guns & Country Club etc?
Raising question about the utility of land, the CDA submitted that ground coverage was allowed up to 2250 square feet area as per original layout plan but NARC has constructed beyond 54,306 square feet area.
NARC has responded by saying it is following the master plan in line with the provision of legal instrument of PARC Ordinance 1981 as per emerging research needs and that the ground coverage of 2250 square feet was not the condition of this lease agreement of the government land.
Regarding the utility of the land under question, the CDA argues that the land is situated in zone-IV of Islamabad Capital Territory where public sector housing schemes are permissible.
NARC has dismissed the argument stating that this area is part of the national park wherein the land was allotted to various government institutions like NIH, NCRD, COMSATS, Pak Turk School and college, Urdu University, Hamdard University etc.
NARC has billions of rupees investment on the scientific and research infrastructure development. Its laboratories have state of the art equipment. “The government institutions cannot be disbanded just because the land now has become attractive for housing scheme through a private developer,” the response goes on.
CDA has called into question the performance of NARC saying its performance assessment must be conducted through the relevant ministry or by private organisation.
NARC has defended its performance saying international consultant of the USAID has documented about it saying: “among all the developing countries, this is the best national agricultural research facility of any nation”.
CDA itself has recently witnessed the successful demonstration of new technologies developed by NARC like bioremediation of sewage water at Rose and Jasmine garden, establishment of 200 kitchen gardening clubs, and production of new brand of Margalla honey. “Needless to mention that the CDA could not make facility of sewage treatment for the Shehzad Town and the same is being bio-remediated at NARC,” said the response.