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CDA directed to start development in Sector I-15

Monday, February 06, 2012 05:44:43 AM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Ministers Islamabad Task Force Chairman Faisal Sakhi Butt in a recent meeting directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to submit a workable solution and a time frame for the development of Sector I-15 to overcome shortage of housing units in the federal capital. The development of I-15 sector, which includes five to six Marla plot apartments, was announced in 2005 and also includes construction of 8,000 flats for low-income groups.

The amount of Rs 1.4 million per flat was fixed at the time of the projects announcement but it was axed when it was later realised the amount was too low. Around 8,000 allottees of the flats the CDA paid for their flats, only 2,700 have been reimbursed. Butt said the government is committed to providing affordable housing, especially to those from low-income groups and added that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has given special directions for development of low-income housing schemes.

He said development of the stalled sector must restart without any further delay and the allied road infrastructure consisting of other link roads to these sectors should also be constructed. The opening of the residential units and new commercial centres will help discourage the trend of non-conforming use of residential buildings in developed sectors.

The CDA chairman, in a board meeting, has directed authorities concerned to form a committee to expedite work on the stalled sector and submit its report to the PMs taskforce in a fortnight. The Engineering Wing of CDA working on the project will decide whether the tender should be floated or develop the sector through a public-private partnership.

Road schemes to be finalised under master plan

Friday, February 03, 2012 06:22:41 AM

KARACHI: Sindh government will encourage the provincial department to prepare, construct and finalise road schemes under approved policy of master plan with standards and quality. The plan has been envisaged to attract intending investors to come ahead and participate in development works with prompt investment, said Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Qaim Ali Shah while presiding over a high-level meeting regarding provision and construction of roads in Sindh province at his office here on Thursday.

He said roads play important role in communication system, development process and promotion of economic activities of the nation, while the present government had worked and chalked out a plan to not only improve the existing road network of the province but also provide big roads under Sindh Road network master plan. Shah said the provincial government, after heavy rains, had initiated construction work of damaged roads, so as to provide basic infrastructure facility to common men.

In his detailed presentation on development of regional hubs and highways connectivity, former adviser to Sindh chief minister Kaiser Bengali said, We need to create a system of cities around growth node, as it is not possible to create another mega city, keeping in view the structure and nature of the economy of Sindh.

To identify three growth nodes (regional hubs), which are northern Sindh (Sukkur), central Sindh (Nawabshah and Dadu) and southern Sindh (Hyderabad), he identified. Cities and towns surrounding these growth nodes (radius of 75-kilometres) are treated as part of the regional hubs, he added. Bengali further informed that high-speed road connectivity between these cities and towns and between the regional hubs is the key to development. He elaborated that the traffic on many of the roads was not heavy due to poor condition of the roads, which had failed to provide necessary connectivity between different parts of the province, particularly with Karachi.

Bengali said the carriageway was the reflection of high vision, which was shown by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who has the courage to break out the conventional meld and create a new path for the country, as such under this vision; it is needed to take Sindh out of the 19th Century into the 21st Century. Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Secretary Raja Muhammad Abbas, Additional Chief Secretary (P&D) Israr Malik, Secretary Works & Services Arif Khan and Secretary Finance Sindh Kamran Naveed Baloch expressed their views and supported the proposed master plan.

Shah accepted the concept and decided to form a 9-member board to develop the concept with concrete proposals within two to three weeks. The board will comprise of Sindh finance minister, Kaiser Bengali, additional chief secretary (P&D), secretary works & services, secretary finance and others. He directed to finalise priorities for the plan, and said that HyderabadMirpurkhas carriageway would be completed up to April 2012. Shah informed that N-5 Project pertaining to road from Karachi to Hyderabad via Thatta National Highway had been approved by the federal government. He directed the officers that there was need of improvement.

Mega development projects to be completed as per schedule

Thursday, February 02, 2012 06:18:59 AM

Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Zahid Saeed has said that on going mega development projects in Rawalpindi including Chandni Chowk flyover would be completed as per schedule.

He said that formal inauguration of Chandni Chowk flyover will be held in March and Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is expected to inaugurate this project. He disclosed that the widening and reconstruction work of Golra Road Peshawar Road would be inaugurated on Feb. 15 while construction of overhead bridge on Chour Chowk has been proposed for traffic coming from Pirwadhai more onward to Peshawar Road and construction of an underpass has been suggested on the road coming towards Rawalpindi.

Similarly, U-turn facility would be provided on the road slightly away from Chour Chowk. This was stated by the Commissioner Rawalpindi while presiding over a meeting of development committee, which was attended by Malik Shakeel Awan MNA, MPAs Raja Muhammad Hanif Advocate, Raja Shoukat Aziz Bhatti, DCO Rawalpindi Saqib Zafar and others. Zahid Saeed directed the officers of nation building departments to expedite construction work on the ongoing projects to ensure their completion in accordance with the schedule. He directed them to take elected representatives on-board in connection with construction work at all stages.

MNA Malik Shakeel Awan disclosed on this occasion that Rs100 million have already been released by the government for the construction of Boys Degree College on twenty canal land in area of Khayaban-e-Sir Syed which would be attributed to the name of Shaheed-e-Millat Liaqat Ali Khan. The government of Punjab has also released a grant of Rs50 million for the construction of Gynea and Peads Hospital at TB Hospital Eidghah Road, Rawalpindi, Shakeel Awan MNA added. He further said that Rs20 million have also been issued by the Punjab government for the construction of Peads department and ward in DHQ Hospital Rawalpindi and construction work on this project is going to be started.

Raja Muhammad Hanif, MPA gave suggestion for allocation of funds for the completion of under construction sports complex near cricket stadium on double road Rawalpindi and Commissioner Rawalpindi directed the Building Department to send a case to the govt. for funds in this respect.

SE Provincial Building Ch. Muhammad Azam informed the meeting that Rs40 million have been released by the government for the under construction double storey Drug Testing Laboratory in BHU Village Hayal and this project would be completed soon after the remaining amount of Rs21 million is received from the government. He added that construction work is also in progress on Food Testing Laboratory being built in Dhoke Chattha Chakri Road, Rawalpindi.

Mareer Chowk tunnel project to be started soon

Thursday, February 02, 2012 05:57:01 AM

Construction work on Mareer Chowk Tunnel project at the busiest chowk of Rawalpindi city would be started soon as the grant in this regard has been released by the Punjab government. According to city district government spokesman, Punjab government has released Rs50 million for the construction of new tunnels on the both sides of Mareer Chowk Railway-overhead bridge.

He informed that No Objection Certificate (NOC) in this respect has also been obtained from the railway department. According to details, earlier a proposal in this regard was presented to the CM requesting that the project should be started as there is huge traffic load at Mareer Chowk and the traffic mess at the intersection creates problems for the citizens. It was also mentioned that due to the traffic congestion, the motorists have to wait 10 to 30 minutes normally besides long lines of vehicles are witnessed there.

In order to provide relief to the citizens and for the resolution of traffic problems Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif had given approval of the project and now a grant for the project has also been released. With the construction of the project, a long standing demand of the citizens would be fulfilled and they will get a sigh of relief as crossing of Mareer Chowk especially during peak hours, is a test of nerves for the motorists. The Mareer Chowk Tunnel project will resolve the traffic congestion problem.

Parking Plaza at Fawara Chowk made operational

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 05:47:12 AM

Finally the Parking Plaza constructed by the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) at main Fawara Chowk has been made operational for parking of vehicles.

Work on this mega project was initiated last year and it was to be completed by the end of the fiscal year June 2011. However, due to some reasons including non-availability of funds, the completion process was extended till December last. The RDA had also awarded the contract to the private party after clearing all dues. However, the project which was to be inaugurated by the Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, on February 4 this year, on the great demand of the public has been made operational for all kind of vehicles.

While launching the operation of Parking Plaza, RDA also shifted back the Suzuki stands on this site. The basement has been spared for transporters to park their vehicles like, yellow cabs, coasters and Suzuki Pick-ups plying on different routes in the city. While vehicles like cars would be accommodated on ground and first floor.

While generating revenue worth Rs15 million annually through it, RDA would start working on implementation of second phase, which include construction of additional four storeys. Initially, the components of the project included construction of shopping centre besides the parking lot. However, the planned had to be changed with the passage of time due to reasons better known to the authorities themselves. Before enforcing this plan, RDA had decided to convert old site of RMC, Jinnah Road, into parking lot which was opposed by the Tehsil Municipal Corporation, Rawal Town, on the grounds that the property belonged to it.

The main objective behind implementation of RDA Parking Plaza was to resolve traffic jams on Liaquat Road, Jinnah Road and at Fawara Chowk.

According to the RDA spokesman, as the project has started functioning, no one would be allowed to park vehicle on roadsides at Liaquat Road, Jinnah Road or Raja Bazaar. As many as 400 vehicles could be parked at one time in the space of new Parking Plaza which is an achievement of RDA which completed it through its self generated funds, the spokesman added.

Further laws needed to attract investment

Friday, January 27, 2012 05:56:26 AM

A straw poll of business leaders in the region suggests that it took anything between one to three months for the contagion of the global financial meltdown to make its way from the epicentre, Wall Street in New York, to the warm shores of the UAE. Whatever your view on how, why and when the downturn actually happened, it doesn't take an economist to understand the colossal collapse of the real estate markets around the world. In the months leading to September 2008, the warning signs had echoed in the UAE real estate markets. Too many developments, supply outstripping demand, and a market rife with speculators. Something was not quite in order and it was only a matter of time before the domino effect would drastically hit the upward trend which we had been experiencing for almost a decade.

Strata regime: On reflection, last year has been relatively quiet for the UAE real estate market, although there has been much debate about the future of existing developments and the concept of "strata". Strata is a term used to describe ownership interests in units located in a multi-owned building or community, together with an undivided ownership interest in the associated common areas. Dubai issued a strata law in 2007 and subsequently issued specific directions in 2010. However, it has not been successfully rolled out into the projects in Dubai. There is still much uncertainty about how the strata regime will be implemented. And it remains to be seen whether the legislation is robust enough to stand the test of time.

Uncertainty continues to exist on which court has jurisdiction to hear legal proceedings involving former subsidiaries of Dubai World, most notably Nakheel. Creditors are still waiting to hear whether their claims will continue to be heard by the Dubai World Tribunal or will it be overseen by the Dubai courts. While there is some indication that the cases commenced before Nakheel became a government-owned company, new claims may have to be brought before the Dubai courts. Further confusion is lent to this by the recent enactment of a law in Dubai to broaden the jurisdiction of the DIFC courts. This allows parties who would have originally brought their cases to the Dubai courts to now have legal disputes adjudicated by DIFC courts, even if their business activities are not connected with the DIFC.

Superimposed over all of this uncertainty is the concept of sovereign immunity, which may exempt government-owned entities such as Nakheel immunity from claims being brought against them. The situation in Dubai may be contrasted to that in Abu Dhabi. There have been very few real estate developments there, while the most notable has been laws relating to tenancy contracts and the introduction of a new system to register leases with the Abu Dhabi Municipality. However, it is no surprise that 2011 ended without the introduction of a strata law in the emirate, although one has been in draft for a number of years.

What does 2012 hold?: It is hoped that 2012 will be a year to end the waiting game. Creditors will be wanting some clear legislative direction on which court has jurisdiction over legal claims brought against Nakheel and other former Dubai World subsidiaries since their separation from Dubai World. Clearly the Abu Dhabi and Dubai real estate markets are in different stages. Both will need further legislation to underpin any attempts to revive transactional activity and make them a viable proposition for international investors.

Administrator for speedy work on all projects

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 06:16:08 AM

KARACHI: Administrator Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Muhammad Hussain Syed has directed the Works and Services Department to speed up work on all ongoing projects in the city and ensure completion of projects in time. He also directed DG KMC Technical Services Altaf G Memon to personally oversee the work on development projects and submit daily report on the progress of work on important projects. He said that alternate ways must be provided to citizens at the sites of projects and the construction waste must not be laid around these sites.

Following the directives of the administrator, the DG is monitoring the development works in different areas of city, a statement issued on Tuesday said. Earlier, Syed inspected the carpeting of Hub River Road, where he was informed that over 50 percent of work was completed and a portion of six kilometres of road was being constructed with three lanes on each side. Special material and engineering was used for construction of this road so that it could be made durable.

Memon, on this occasion, said that the improvement of Hub River Road would solve the traffic problem on this important corridor. All efforts were made to do away with the work on this project before the scheduled time. He said the road had been used by heavy traffic going and coming from interior areas of Sindh and Balochistan, which caused its deterioration and break up. The citizens had to face hardships due to regular traffic jam on this road and they would have convenience with the completion of work, he said.

Second phase of Benazir Airport to be completed by September

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 05:56:57 AM

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence was informed on Monday that the second phase of the new Benazir International Airport would be completed by September 2012. The airport is being constructed by a Chinese company, which is the worlds fourth largest construction company. The total cost of the project is is Rs 63 billion. The first phase has been completed while the second phase will be completed by September 2012, said a press release. The committee meeting, chaired by Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, was apprised that the cargo operation could be started in December 2012 and the main problem being faced in the project was the road network, which was to be completed by the National Highway Authority (NHA). The committee stressed the NHA to take appropriate steps for timely completion of the project.

The meeting was attended among others by MNAs Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur, Dr Abdul Wahid Soomro, Shagufta Sadiq, Malik Nauman Ahmad Langrial, Capt (r) Rai Ghulam Mujtaba Kharal, Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan, Hamid Saeed Kazmi and Jawad Hussain. Ministry of Defence Additional Secretary, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director, Airport Security Force Director General, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Director General, Ministry of Finance Joint Secretary, Pakistan Meteorological Department Director General and other relevant officers from Ministry of Defence and PIA also attended the meeting.

The committee approved the Airport Security Force (Amendment) Bill 2011. The NA body was also briefed on the present status of all the runways. The committee was also informed that the CAA was facing problems in moving heavy machinery from Badin to Mithi due to the damaged road network. On the desire of the committee, the PIA MD assured the provision of two flights to Sehwan Sharif within thirty days. The committee was also briefed on the security measures adopted at small airports and the present status of vehicles brought in by the foreign dignitaries through small airports in Pakistan. The committee condemned and took serious notice of the manhandling by Sindh Police of a PIA official for not delaying the flight for Sindh IGP. It was decided to hold the meeting of the committee on the issue on February 3.

The NA Standing Committee constituted a sub-committee under the convenership of Nawabzada Malik Amad Khan to look into the misreporting by some private TV channels regarding ownership of the Indus Airlines.

Park Enclave Housing Scheme: Senate body for timely completion of development work

Friday, January 20, 2012 05:56:38 AM

ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat has directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) to complete the Park Enclave Housing Scheme-Zone IV within stipulated time. The committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Shahid Hassan Bugti at CDA headquarters on Thursday to discuss the work progress of Park Enclave Sector E-12 and construction of offices of Senate and National Assembly standing committees chairmen. The committee was apprised that the development work was going on according to the layout plan and the authority was committed to completion of the project in time.

The committee showed concern over six months extension in time frame for completion of the project and directed that it should not be further extended. CDA officials informed the committee that they would complete the infrastructure work within a period of one year, however, the administrative work, like development of clubs, hospitals and mosques, would be completed in next six months. The committee was informed that CDA had possession of the whole land in the scheme that comprised 650 one-kanal plots and 40 two-kanals plots, which would be fully developed. CDA Chairman Engineer Farkhand Iqbal assured the committee that Park Enclave would be developed as a model sector.

The allottees would be informed about the development work in the scheme and the concerned department had already been directed to issue letters to them about the development, delay or any problems in the work, Farkhand said. Reviewing the development work of Sector E-12, the committees showed concern, saying the affected were suffering since 1985, in spite of the inquiries conducted by various departments. The CDA officials informed the committee that the occupants had taken stay order from Islamabad High Court (IHC) by misguiding it, as the Supreme Court of Pakistan had already given a verdict in favour of CDA. They said the court would withdraw stay order after hearing the point of view of CDA in this regard on January 21.

Although, CDA had no funds for development of E-12, but it was making efforts to generate revenue by cutting its non-development expenditure, like electricity bills, and by replacing bulbs with LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) and saving around 50 percent in electricity bills by using waste for production of electricity, said the officials.

Currently, 65,000 conventional lights were being used in parks, streets and markets, which cost Rs 1.2 billion as electricity bills annually, using 18 megawatts, however, LEDs would cost Rs 500-700 million, saving around nine megawatts, the CDA officials said. Senators Saeeda Iqbal, Kalsoom Perveen, Begum Najma Hameed and Ali Muhammad Badini and CDA officials were also present on the occasion.

Wasa corruption delays Allama Iqbal Road project

Thursday, January 19, 2012 04:47:47 AM

THE Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has failed to complete Allama Iqbal Road sewerage project due to inability and corruption of its officials, The News has learnt. The project worth Rs 550 million was initiated by Wasa in June 2011, with the financial support of the provincial government for installation of main sewer lines (46 inch) from Dharampura Bridge to Garhi Shahu Bridge. The City District Government (CDG) had given three months deadline to Wasa to complete the project but its officials failed to complete the same.

The slow-paced construction work on the said road is not only causing frequent traffic jams but also becomes a permanent source of public nuisance particularly for the business community. There are a number of banks, educational institutions, food outlets and other commercial businesses there but dug up roads for past six months have ruined their business. Majority of the shopkeepers at Allama Iqbal Road said the CDGL was responsible for their business losses, which were being gradually increasing by the day due delay in completing the project.

They said they were already facing immense problems for running their businesses due to frequent loadshedding and other circumstances of the country. They said delay in this project had worsened the situation for them. Sources in Wasa told The News the project could have been completed in time but the corruption of the Wasa officials was the basic reason behind its delay. They added Wasa laid about 8,200 feet pipelines on Allama Iqbal Road from railway station to Jamia Naeemia, Chowk Garhi Shahu and from Chowk Crown Cinema to Mayo Garden and Wasa officials instead of using the standard and specific materials for this only used sludge material in covering the pipelines.

They said that four Wasa officials including DMD Iqtidar Shah, Director Tariq Muhammad, XEN Ishtiaq Tirmizi and SDO Garhi Shahu had been suspended by an inquiry committee, which initiated a probe soon after a resident of the locality complained about embezzlement by the Wasa officials. The sources further added that the construction of roadside drains have not been completed so far by Wasa and to hide their inefficiency, Wasa had extended this project from Garhi Shahu Bridge to Muhammad Nagar.

DCO Lahore Ahad Cheema could have taken action against Wasa for the delay in this project but he instead of taking action approved the extension and granted Rs 5.5 million more budget to the authority. Talking to this scribe, a senior officer of Works and Communication Department of CDGL held Wasa was responsible for delay in construction of the road. He said the works department would start construction of the road after receiving a green signal from Wasa regarding completion of work.

Talking to The News, MD WASA Dr Javed Iqbal said that government awarded such projects to Wasa during monsoon and factually the target was being achieved by the officials within the given timeframe if the days of rainy season were excluded. He said that Wasa had done almost 90 per cent work and further work would be completed soon. Javed Iqbal said that the CDGL had extended the sewer installation work from Garhi Shahu to Muhammad Nagar, which also disturbed the actual timeline of the project. DCO Lahore Ahad Cheema was contacted many times by this correspondent on his cell number but he was not available.