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The Parade Ground project, to cost Rs 433.133 million, has become a bone of contention between the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Federal Government. Talking to Business Recorder on Tuesday, official sources said that both parties have spent an equal amount of money on the project, as decided earlier.
"The government, under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for financial year 2008-09, has to provide Rs 216.5 million, half of total project cost. However, it is now reluctant to give it", sources said. The project was scheduled for completion by January 2008. But due to non-availability of funds from the government side the construction work has been stopped for last six months.
"Non-availability of funds is impeding completion of new parade ground project and it seems unlikely that it would be completed by next Pakistan Day parade," said sources. On the directives of federal government, the CDA had levelled the project site by cutting down hundreds of trees, for which the Authority faced huge criticism, sources said. According to sources, it would permanent Pakistan Day parade ground, to be constructed near Lok Virsa, in Shakarparian area.
The decision to construct a permanent parade ground was taken by the previous government keeping in mind security concerns and inconvenience caused to people with traffic having to be diverted during the parade. The Phase-I of the project is designed to accommodate all participating troops, march-pasts and drive pasts, whereas, in Phase-II seating arrangements for 37,000 spectators and a parking lot to accommodate 10,000 cars would be constructed.
"It would be constructed on modern architectural lines, so that it could also be used for other cultural and industrial events, when required", sources said. Besides parade, a site, measuring 600x250 metres, would also be used as international expo centre, with exhibition halls and open area. Officials said if the project was delayed further, the site would revert to become a jungle, which it once was.
Asked whether the Authority had talked to the Federal Government regarding the issue, sources said, "The Authority had once asked the government to resolve the issue. In turn, the government asked Capital Development Authority (CDA) to complete the project from its own resources, which we don't have. And so the matter is not yet finalised."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2008

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