BHC delegation discusses uplift of Islamabad with CDA

Islamabad:The Capital Development Authority (CDA) hosted a delegation led by Ms. Jo Moir, Development Director from Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the British High Commission. The meeting, which also included participation from the Member Environment, Deputy Commissioner (ICT), and Director the Municipal Corporation Islamabad (MCI) and others, focused on exploring potential areas of collaboration for the development of Islamabad and converting it into the Brand City.

CDA Chairman, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, welcomed the delegation and provided a comprehensive overview of CDA's major initiatives. These efforts aim to improve Islamabad's infrastructure and services through a multi-pronged approach and digitalization. This includes increasing resource mobilization and revenue generation to support development projects. Additionally, he highlighted that the CDA is expanding tree plantation drives to enhance Islamabad's green cover. Technological advancements are also a key focus, with the CDA implementing digitized parking management systems and utilizing digital billboards for outdoor advertising. Furthermore, the CDA is committed to improved governance through IT solutions and digitization of land records. Discussions explored potential collaboration in several key areas.

The CDA and FCDO will work together to identify new avenues for resource generation, allowing the CDA to generate more funds for Islamabad's development. Additionally, the focus will be on digitizing property tax collection for increased efficiency and transparency. Recognizing the importance of sustainability, the collaboration will explore obtaining technical assistance for carbon credit initiatives. The meeting also highlighted the potential of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) as a sustainable development model for Islamabad's future. Collaboration will extend to improving solid waste management strategies and optimizing urban property tax systems for a more equitable and efficient approach.

During the meeting, it was the decided to establish a joint working group comprised of teams from FCDO and CDA. This working group will be tasked with identifying avenues for enhanced cooperation between the two organizations, developing a workable plan with realistic and achievable short, medium, and long-term goals and targets and establishing timelines for accomplishing these goals.