ISLAMABAD: On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave the appropriate authorities instructions to ensure that development projects in the federal capital are completed on time and to have each project independently validated.
In order to speed up work on the development projects, particularly for the early completion of the projects of public interest, the prime minister, who was the meeting’s chair, formed a review committee.
He gave the authorities the order to provide residents of the federal capital with the best facilities possible. The prime minister, who also received a briefing on the city’s development initiatives, was informed that The improvement of the rural areas of Islamabad will cost Rs 10 billion. He instructed that the development projects be worked on nonstop and carried out
He instructed for the early completion of Bhara Kahu bypass and also sought a report from the Capital Development Authority on the introduction of solid waste management system for Islamabad.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said that work on public transport projects should be expedited and the parking issues in the city should be addressed without any delay.
He also directed the CDA for the early execution of projects meant for overseas Pakistanis by maintaining an international standard. Moreover, the projects for overseas Pakistanis should be made transparent by introducing an online system.
He also called for extending maximum facilities to the expatriates to attract their investment in the country.
The prime minister said that the overseas Pakistanis were a precious asset for Pakistan and no laxity in their projects would be tolerated.
The prime minister sought a report on the uplift of the rural areas and the development of infrastructure there.
It was told that Rs10 billion would be spent on the uplift of rural area of Islamabad under which the development schemes of solid waste management, sewerage, rehabilitation of roads and public transport would be executed.
The participants of the meeting were briefed on the ongoing projects including Bhara Kahu bypass, 7th Avenue Interchange, Margalla Avenue, 11th Avenue, IJP Road, Islamabad Expressway, and parking plaza.
It was told that round-the-clock work was being done on Bhara Kahu bypass.
The prime minister ordered the project’s early completion for it being a public interest project and no laxity in this regard would be tolerated.
The meeting was told that 7th Avenue Interchange and Margalla Avenue had been completed while IJP road’s expansion would be completed by March 23, this year.
Moreover, the 11th Avenue and 1st phase of Islamabad Expressway would be completed by mid of this year and the parking plaza and 2nd phase of Islamabad Expressway would be completed by this year-end.
The CDA chairman briefed the prime minister about the feeder routes and a bus terminal. It was told that the CDA would build a national terminal of international standard and three satellite terminals through the investment of the private sector.
Besides, 13 feeder bus routes would be introduced within 90 days as four feeder routes were already functional.
It was told that around 200,000 people travel through Islamabad’s public transport system.
The prime minister was also apprised of the steps being taken by the CDA regarding the resolution of the parking issues.
It was told that the Authority was building parking plazas in sectors I-8, G-9, F-10, F-8 and Blue Area. With a capacity of 5,000 cars, these parking plazas would address the parking problems.
Federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Advisor to PM Tariq Bajwa, ex-federal minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, ex-MNA Hanif Abbasi, Anjum Aqeel and senior officers attended the meeting.
