CDA to build protected U-turns, slip roads at Rawal Chowk

Islamabad: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has mobilised machinery for creation of protected U-turn and slip roads at Rawal Dam Chowk.

The initiative was taken to cater traffic issues in the capital particularly on the Murree Road and Park Road of Islamabad. In this connection, work on protected U-turn has already been started.

Construction of this U-turn will not only help reduce traffic burden but also help minimise traffic accidents from this busy road. Under this initiative, three slip roads will also be constructed in the vicinity to further ease the smooth traffic flow on this major avenue.

These roads will help lead the traffic emerging from Serena Chowk, Murree Road to Park Road, from Park Road to Faizabad, Murree Road and from Faizabad/Murree Road to Islamabad Club/Murree Road.

It is pertinent to mention here that earlier this month; Capital Development Authority chairman had directed the Director Traffic Planning and Director Urban Planning to coordinate with Islamabad Traffic Police to chalk out a comprehensive workable plan to fix traffic issues all over the city particularly at the Rawal Dam Chowk.

In this connection, initially slip roads and protected U-turn are being constructed intended to help smooth traffic flow in the area, A Capital Development Authority official said. QAU moot on S&T, innovation on 14th: A one-day conference on 'building innovative Pakistan through science, technology and innovation policy' will be held at the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) here on Feb 14.

Organised by Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Riphah Policy Institute, Pakistan-France Alumni Network, South Asia Triple Helix Association and Mehran University Policy Institute, the event is meant to bring together the academia, industry and government organisations working for the development of science, technology and innovation in Pakistan.

The panellists will highlight ways and means to connect science with society, strengthen education and STI organisations, increase exports, develop industries and achieve socioeconomic development through science and technology initiatives.

The organisers said the current innovative ecosystems in Pakistan would be discussed and evaluated in a push for economic development of Pakistan through innovation. Pakistan is in dire need to emerge as entrepreneurial strata.

They said the event was an effort to respond to this challenge and focuses on all factors of the triple helix model for understanding the science, technology, and innovation policy, governance and innovation ecosystem.

The organisers said the conference would offer learning from successful models, policy proposals and policy implementation guidelines for education, industry, government and for allied stakeholders to contribute to building up innovation ecosystem and entrepreneurial Pakistan.

Federal ministers, secretaries, presidents of chambers of commerce and industry and vice-chancellors of public and private sector universities will present model policies for science and technology- led economic growth of Pakistan.