The CDA board meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chairman Mohammad Usman and discussed several agenda items. The meeting approved the revision of the layout plan of the E-11 Northern Strip, permitting 103 commercial and apartment plots in place of the site earlier reserved for high-rise apartment projects. 

The board also announced that the bylaws of the Markaz of Islamabad should be applied to the said plots. 

In this regard, CDA officials stated that E-11 was a fast-developing sector and the said plots in total had the ability to produce over Rs40 billion. They added it was expected that in the forthcoming auction, the authority would put the first batch of the said plots for auction. 

Moreover, the meeting also approved the revised layout plan of C-14, increasing the number of plots of size 50×90, from 542 to 601. The board also sanctioned an auction of plots for the construction of a five-star hotel adjacent to the Marriott Hotel in F-5. 

Recently, the officials of CDA decided in favor of the civic body and recommended going for auction after getting approval from the federal government. Consequently, the matter was placed before the board to get its consent for sending the summary to the federal government. 

The CDA officials went on to say that after receiving approval from the government, the civic body would auction off this plot because the capital’s growing population necessitated the urgent need for new hotels. 

Similarly, the meeting also approved policy changes for dealing with cases involving those affected by land acquisition. According to sources, the board also agreed to reduce the bus fare (shuttle service from Bhara Kahu bazaar to terminal of green bus service) from Rs20 to Rs15.

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According to the sources, the operation was jointly participated by Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA), the National Highways Authority (NHA), the Directorate of Municipal Administration, and the Federal Capital Police. 

While AC Secretariat provided the magisterial cover. 

Meanwhile, in response to public complaints, the ICTA food department inspected eateries and restaurants in sectors I-10 and I-11/3 to assess food quality and hygiene conditions. 

Restaurants were fined for noncompliance with food laws, hygiene standards, the use of expired items, and poor sanitation. 

Muhammad Afzal, the Deputy Director of Food, issued warnings to some food handlers and directed them to improve the restaurant’s food quality. 

Earlier, the interior minister gave a rare endorsement was received to the top civic body and district administration for their current operation against illegal marquees and other construction in the city as it demolished 25 structures. 
 
State Minister for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi paid two visits to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration’s anti-encroachment operations. 

 
The minister directed the authorities to carry on their indiscriminate operation against illegal structures in the federal capital according to CDA’s rules and regulations. 
The junior interior minister also directed the CDA, the ICT Administration, and the Islamabad Police to work together to eliminate encroachment from the city. 

 
In addition, the CDA also launched a massive operation against encroached state property and confiscated illegal marquees along the Kashmir Highway. 

 
Numerous establishments established on the right-of-way (RoW) of the Kashmir Highway, the majority of them were marquees, were demolished using heavy machinery, a senior CDA official told the media. 

“We also razed those housing units which were built illegally in the RoW of Kashmir Highway in Sector D-12,” a CDA Planning Directorate official stated. 

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While visiting the sites, CDA Chairman Capt. (ret.) Muhammad Usman Younis observed the u-turns and ordered the relevant officials to gather statistics on the number of vehicles utilizing these u-turns. 

The chairman instructed the department to devise a plan for the construction of elevated u-turns that will connect traffic from Islamabad to the motorway network and Islamabad International Airport. 

According to the sources, this development comes soon after a report that pointed out Srinagar Highway as being a hotspot for fatal car accidents. 

In this regard, a report from the department of sociology of Quaid-e-Azam University highlighted that Islamabad has observed a major increase in road accidents. These accidents mainly occurred due to the use of mobile phones, old and unmaintained cars, reckless driving, bad road conditions, and other reasons. 

As per the official data, the study underlined that out of the total accidents on Srinagar Highway in 2021, 43% were non-fatal, while 57% of accidents were fatal. In 2022, the percentage turned to 43% fatal and 57% non-fatal accidents, though, the severity of injuries was higher. 

Moreover, the report said that the ratio of fatal accidents is expected to increase by the end of 2022. Out of 118 high-speed crashes, 60% were fatal and 40% were non-fatal, the report further highlighted. Similarly, out of all car crashes from reckless driving, 43% were fatal whereas 57% were non-fatal. 

The report also counted speeding and reckless driving to be the main reasons for accidents. However, it noted that the reason behind overspeeding and reckless driving is the carelessness and negligence of the authorities. 

Despite the fact that the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) have been on their toes to make sure the implementation of the rules, road mishaps are increasing on daily basis. 

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CDA officials told the media that these electric buses will soon run on 6 different public transport routes. The department will also set up space for charging stations for the buses. 

The authority will open the tender for bus consultancy on 12th October. The first consignment of electric buses will arrive in Islamabad by the end of December. CDA will establish three base stations for e-buses. 

Sources reported that the launch of electric buses has been on CDA’s agenda for the past few years. The authority also started testing these buses in the twin cities a few days ago. According to the latest reports, a tangible follow-up to those plans may be inbound. 

Moreover, CDA is looking forward to launching 13 new bus routes in two phases. In this regard, CDA Chairman, Capt. (Retd.) Usman Younis said that the first phase includes the provision of transport on six congested routes while during the second phase, the administration will procure buses for seven additional routes. 

CDA chief also stated that the authority will also start a route from Faizabad to Pir Wadhai after the completion of the IJP road, adding that PIMS will serve as the new routes’ hub, connecting the service to Red Line and Orange Line Metro buses. 

Meanwhile, CDA is engaged in evaluating the feasibility of all routes and is preparing tender documents for several contractors. The department says that its goal is to reduce people’s reliance on private means of transportation to save fuel costs and the environment. 

These electric buses, the CDA chief said, will be widespread over the coming years, just like private electric vehicles (EVs) and taxis, and these initiatives will help the world move towards a more sustainable and more intelligent mobility system that increases the quality of life for everyone. 

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However, some CDA officials requesting anonymity questioned the move. According to them, how could a firm start construction work on the project without getting “assurances” and “favors” from the civic agency. 

CDA Director Road Tahir Mahmood explained that the work was started at Nadra Chowk through “internal” arrangements. He said that the “proper work would be started after the tendering process”. 

The CDA will install ‘see-through’ entry gates at three locations – Nadra Chowk, D-Chowk, near Serena Hotel – ahead of the expected protest by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in the Red Zone later this month. The gates will be open on normal days, but the authorities would close them in case of protests. 

The CDA officials further said that the initiative was not only intended at countering the PTI marchers but would also help deal with similar protests in the future. 

In addition, CDA sources further informed that the design work of the gates has been done and the gate near Serena Hotel would be 100 feet wide, the gate near D-Chowk would be 90 feet wide, and the one at Nadra Chowk would be 105 feet wide. 

Responding regarding the cost of the project, he stated that the final estimation was being finalized, however, another officer was of the opinion that the project would roughly cost over Rs30 million depending on the scope of work. 

In a related development, the CDA’s engineering wing has started the initial work on the construction of a road in the extended area of the Diplomatic Enclave without the tendering process. However, the director road stated that the initial work of removing bushes and clearing alignment has been started through “internal arrangements”. 

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The forest was inaugurated by the CDA Chairman, Captain (retired) Muhammad Usman Yunus, and the Managing Director (MD) of Mari Petroleum, Faheem Haider. The inauguration was done by planting saplings in the H-12 Sector of Islamabad. Other concerned CDA officials were also present at the occasion. 

According to the sources, the forest has an area of 17 acres (740,520 square feet). At first, the 20,000 large-sized saplings of different species have already been planted, however the plantation will continue, making the forest larger gradually. A special protective fence has also been installed to protect the plantation. 

During the ceremony, the CDA chief expressed his gratification toward Mari Petroleum for participating in the project. He said that 20,000 new plants will add to Islamabad being a green city and that CDA is looking forward to launch more plantation campaigns in cooperation with other departments as well. 

He added that this being the largest Miyawaki forest, special arrangements were made to guarantee its safety by the CDA administration. Last year in 2021, ex-PrimeMinister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan inaugurated the then-largest urban Miyawaki forest, covering an area of 12.5 acres in Lahore. 

The CDA chairman further stated that considering the environmental pollution, though the amount of saplings to be planted are few, however the CDA administration is trying to plant more saplings. 

It is to be mentioned that Akira Miyawaki is a Japanese botanist and expert in plant ecology who pioneered the Miyawaki Forest technique of tree plantation. 

Following the technique, trees are planted in close proximity to each other and during the initial stages, the plants compete for space, light, and water, resulting in rapid development. The plants under this method develop 10 times faster than normal plantation. 

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As per the officials in CDA, the expected cost for the installation of a camera network in the park is approximately Rs.50 million. A tender in this regard has already been floated by the authority. 

The officials further informed that the project envisaged installing more than 100 cameras in the park. 

Security cameras will be connected at all four gates and also around the 8 km-long boundary wall of the park. In addition, the cameras will also be mounted at parking lots, walking tracks, and other important areas within the park, the officials added. 

For this purpose, the cable will be laid down for the installation of cameras around the boundary wall and within the park, the sources explained, adding that new poles will also be installed for the cameras. 

Moreover, a control room will be set up under the project for monitoring the park, while the data of people and automobiles entering and leaving the park will be kept, the CDA officials further said. 

The officials also revealed that to ensure further security, guards will be deployed at all entry gates and all the cameras will be linked to Islamabad Safe City for monitoring. 

Emphasizing the protection of the visitors, the authority representative told the media that people’s safety was our topmost priority and for this purpose, the decision for the installation of security cameras has been taken, as incidents of murder, rape, and snatching have taken place in the park in the past. 

During the last few months, a few cases of crimes and murders occurred in the park, which raises questions about the security situation in the park. F-9 Park is popularly known as Fatima Jinnah Park and is the largest park in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan. 

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According to the sources, the five-kilometer-long Trail 7 was inaugurated by the civic authority today at 6 AM. The trail runs from C-12 to Kainthia, Alexander Well. 

The inauguration ceremony was attended by CDA Chairman, Captain Usman, and DC Islamabad, Irfan Nawaz Memon. 

In addition, the authority also resurrected ‘Trail 1’ and ‘Trail 2’ in the Margalla Hills for backpackers and visitors earlier this month after the completion of necessary restoration work including the installation of maps, milestones, and benches along the route. 

CDA chief, Amir Ali Ahmed, earlier this month, also inaugurated a new park named Hill Park on Third Road in Sector G-10/4, Islamabad. 

In a similar development, the Margalla Hills National Park’s Leopard Preserve Zone guided tours by the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWB) have resumed. 

Announcing the news on Twitter, the IWMB Chairperson Rina Saeed Khan Satti wrote the zone is found on Trail-6 in the village of Kalinjar. Willing persons (minimum of two) can register for the tour by calling Park Ranger Ahmar Riaz at 0333-9038132. 

The management of the IMWB will greet the registered tourists at the visitor center behind the Faisal Mosque before the guided tour. 

According to the details given by IMWB, the tour involves walking or climbing around two kilometers into the area. The tour guide will brief the tourists of the leopards’ habits, range, and biodiversity. Besides, a documentary about the zone will also be viewed by them. The IMWB further said that this journey is only for those who are interested to learn about leopards and seeing their natural habitats. 

To prevent any disturbance during the tour, the board further said that it will not host frequent hikers or trekkers. 

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A preliminary examination revealed that 11 plots in sector I-11 were assigned through the backdated signatures of high officials, and the Security Directorate of the CDA seized the papers for those plans.

Details reveal that Member Estate CDA, Naveed Ilahi, recently received a complaint alleging that 11 plots of I-11 were distributed using backdated officer signatures. Following this, the Security Directorate carried out a quick investigation and discovered inconsistencies in the allocation of these plots.

It should be recalled that a scam involving the allocation of more than 100 plots in the I-11 and I-12 sectors utilizing officers of the CDA’s backdated signatures surfaced a few years ago. Since then, the Security Directorate has been looking into the situation, and its findings have not yet been released.

A few years ago, the Security Directorate also seized papers from One Window Operation (OWP) pertaining to seven plots of an I series sector and reported the incident to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). While an investigation into the unauthorized assignment of the remaining plots is still ongoing, the FIA brought a case involving one of them last year.

The Security Directorate discovered the illegal allotment of seven properties in the D-13 sector last month as well. After a senior female officer learned that two plots in D-13 had been assigned under her authority, the issue first came to light a few months ago.

The Security Directorate discovered after conducting a preliminary inquiry that these plots had been allocated using forged signatures from numerous top CDA officials. Additionally, it discovered that the Land Directorate’s records do not contain the files for these seven plots.

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CDA chief Ahmed, Member Engineering Syed Munawar Shah, and other concerned officers of CDA visited the construction site to inspect the pace of the work. 

In April, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered the authority to complete the project during the first week of September by all means necessary. 

Rs1.1 billion project was inaugurated in July 2020, but development work on it formally began in October. The project was likely to accomplish by Oct this year however PM moved up the deadline by a month. 

It was also announced that the FWO would complete the project at the same amount of Rs1.1 billion on which it was given to the former contractor who left the project midway. 

To meet the deadline given by PM Sharif, the CDA management has accelerated the work on the project. 

“We are planning to open the overpass/flyover to traffic on July 31. While the entire project will be completed by the end of August for its final inauguration which is likely to take place in the first week of September,” according to a CDA official. 

Moreover, the CDA had faced an impediment after contractors – a joint venture of two companies – stopped construction work halfway earlier this year because of a hike in the prices of construction material. 

The work was suspended for two months before being taken over by the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) and National Logistics Cell (NLC) at the request of the civic body. 

It is to be noted that the CDA administration has been giving major contracts either to the FWO or the NLC under 42(F) of PPRA rules. 

With regard to the award of the Rawal Road project to private companies, a CDA engineer remarked that the civic body’s experience with the private contractors was “disappointing” which caused the authority to look towards the army-run companies for the completion of the project within the stipulated time. “Now, we are satisfied that work will be completed by end of August,” he added referring to the FWO. 

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