Pindi may be merged with Islamabad
December 14, 2006
ISLAMABAD: A serious thinking is developing to eventually merge Rawalpindi Tehsil with the federal capital of Islamabad so that the neighbouring areas would also be benefited from fast-paced development and facilities.
“The idea to merge Rawalpindi, only Tehsil and not the entire district, has been well-received and an exercise to move ahead on this matter has been initiated,” a senior official told The News on Wednesday.
"Yes, I am in total support of this idea," said Railways Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed, who hails from downtown Rawalpindi. "Rawalpindi is not being developed because of shortage of funds and Pindi dwellers are facing multiple problems and having lesser civic facilities."
He said the Rawalpindi's merger with Islamabad would help this area to grow fast, at par with the posh areas of the capital.
A local leader said once this merger takes place the areas within the present Rawalpndi Tehsil would start receiving adequate funds for development. "We are not receiving adequate funds from the provincial government primarily because the Lahore-based Punjab bureaucracy believes that Rawalpindi is almost part of Islamabad," said the local leader.
He enlisted high price value of the land, changing lifestyle of the Pindi residents, benefits in terms of development, educational, medical and civic facilities as the net profits the Pindi residents will get if this merger takes place.
Rawalpindi Tehsil is an old city and it houses General Headquarters, which will be shifted to Islamabad in 5 years time and with the construction of new Islamabad Airport, the Rawalpindi Tehsil will no longer enjoy the status of a metropolis.
In particular, many believe that Rawalpindi Tehsil is fast being surrounded by ever-extending boundaries and development of Islamabad Capital Territory, as at present all the three sides of Rawalpindi Tehsil are encircled by Islamabad and the only side of Adialia is left where some extension of the city can take place.
"There will be no problem to included Rawalpindi in the Capital Territory and that would be done through proper legislation and I hope the Punjab government and even the Pindi residents will have no objection to their prosperous future," said the senior official.
Some say that with its merger Rawalpindi city areas will also be developed and upgraded in line with the posh localities of Islamabad. "Why should Pindi remains a backward city as compared to Islamabad particularly when most of its people use to travel up to Islamabad almost on daily basis," said the official.
“The idea to merge Rawalpindi, only Tehsil and not the entire district, has been well-received and an exercise to move ahead on this matter has been initiated,” a senior official told The News on Wednesday.
"Yes, I am in total support of this idea," said Railways Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed, who hails from downtown Rawalpindi. "Rawalpindi is not being developed because of shortage of funds and Pindi dwellers are facing multiple problems and having lesser civic facilities."
He said the Rawalpindi's merger with Islamabad would help this area to grow fast, at par with the posh areas of the capital.
A local leader said once this merger takes place the areas within the present Rawalpndi Tehsil would start receiving adequate funds for development. "We are not receiving adequate funds from the provincial government primarily because the Lahore-based Punjab bureaucracy believes that Rawalpindi is almost part of Islamabad," said the local leader.
He enlisted high price value of the land, changing lifestyle of the Pindi residents, benefits in terms of development, educational, medical and civic facilities as the net profits the Pindi residents will get if this merger takes place.
Rawalpindi Tehsil is an old city and it houses General Headquarters, which will be shifted to Islamabad in 5 years time and with the construction of new Islamabad Airport, the Rawalpindi Tehsil will no longer enjoy the status of a metropolis.
In particular, many believe that Rawalpindi Tehsil is fast being surrounded by ever-extending boundaries and development of Islamabad Capital Territory, as at present all the three sides of Rawalpindi Tehsil are encircled by Islamabad and the only side of Adialia is left where some extension of the city can take place.
"There will be no problem to included Rawalpindi in the Capital Territory and that would be done through proper legislation and I hope the Punjab government and even the Pindi residents will have no objection to their prosperous future," said the senior official.
Some say that with its merger Rawalpindi city areas will also be developed and upgraded in line with the posh localities of Islamabad. "Why should Pindi remains a backward city as compared to Islamabad particularly when most of its people use to travel up to Islamabad almost on daily basis," said the official.
