CDA renames 9th Avenue

Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) during its board meeting on Friday in a surprising decision approved renaming Agha Shahi Road (9th Avenue) as Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi Avenue.

Chairman Capital Development Authority Sheikh Anser Aziz presided over the meeting. All CDA Board members attended the meeting.

The 9th avenue on its completion during tenure of the then CDA chairman Kamran Lashari was given name of Agha Shahi Road. The reason behind second time change in title of the road could not be known immediately.

Agha Shahi was the distinguished Pakistani diplomat and also served the country as Foreign Minister.

The residents of Islamabad feel that any other new road could be named after Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi instead of giving Agha Shahi road as new name.

Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi original name was Ahmad Shah Awan, who was born in village Anga, District Khushab on 20 November 1916. The famous literary figure died on 10 July, 2006. Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi was an Urdu and English language poet, journalist, literary critic, dramatist and short story author. He wrote around 50 books on topics such as poetry, fiction, criticism, journalism and art and was a major figure in contemporary Urdu literature. 

"Renaming 9th Avenue as Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi Road is a tribute to his literary works and a bid to keep his name alive among present and coming generations," the CDA spokesman said.