Lack of funds mars beauty of capital

Islamabad

Lack of necessary funds after transfer of the environment wing from Capital Development Authority (CDA) to Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) is creating problems to maintain natural beauty of the capital city.

The environment wing was likely to receive Rs250 million to carry out its functions but non-issuance of necessary funds is adversely affecting its overall performance. There are around 4,000 employees in the environment wing and it has an important task to maintain natural beauty and ecological settings of the green city.

The posts of director environment protection cell, director environment (West), six deputy directors, 10 assistant directors and 8 horticulture officers are lying vacant that is also creating problems in routine affairs of the environment wing.

The directorates that work under the environment wing include directorate of environment, directorate of parks, directorate of environment (technical), directorate of zoo and wildlife and directorate of environment protection cell.

Mayor Shaikh Anser Aziz said the environment wing would start work with more vigour and passion and it has planned to plant 0.3 million saplings at various areas of the city.

“All vacant posts in the environment wing would be filled soon as the government gives high priority to maintain natural character of Islamabad. The necessary funds would also be made available as they are currently sorting out modalities in this respect,” he said.