Capital Development Authority (CDA) is planning to establish a Police station of its own that would particularly deal with land mafia in the capital. This was announced by Tariq Mahmood Khan, Chairman CDA while talking to media after planting a sapling in connection with Tree Plantation Campaign at the National Press Club on Friday.
He said that CDA is considering establishment of its own police station to cope with the illegal developers/encroachers in the city as the ratio of unlawful land occupants is increasing in the capital with the each passing day. He further informed that most of the land in sectors F-12 and G-12 were still not being vacated by the unlawful occupants.
Chairman CDA said that there are 10 katchi abadis in the capital, out of which four have been shifted to Alipur Farash as per decision of the Federal Cabinet. "About 1500 residential plots at Alipur Farash have been allotted to the affectees of different Katchi Abadis, while rest of such hamlets have been upgraded to restrict further expansion," he added.
Answering to a question regarding encroachments, he replied that CDA was removing all illegal encroachments but it was also the responsibility of the capital residents to keep a vigilant eye on encroachers to curb the menace timely.
"We are informing the public through advertisements in the press to avoid unauthorised/illegal sale and purchase of land and housing scheme," he said. Besides, CDA Board Members and office bearers of National Press Club, a large number of journalists were present on the occasion.
The Chairman further said that CDA was implementing governments three-year "Clean and Green Islamabad" programme, and 2.4 million saplings would be planted in the city. He said that CDA had also participated in tree plantation campaign at Media Town and planted 5000 saplings.
"CDA is a developmental agency and it is utilising its all available resources to provide basic facilities to the citizens of the federal capital round the clock," he said, adding that media should fully cooperate for taking effective measures for improvement of the civic body." He said that National Press Club would be developed in line with modern requirements and it would be one of the best press clubs of Pakistan. Media plays a pivotal role in the development of the country, he added.
He asked media persons to come up with fruitful suggestions and play their active role in initiation of mega projects, development and beautification of Islamabad. Secretary General of the National Press Club, Afzal Butt, President Tariq Chaudhry and CDA Board members were present on the occasion.