CDA gets Rs2.088 billion under PSDP in federal budget

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) received Rs2.088 billion in the federal budget announced on Friday under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), allocated for various projects, the major one being the construction of 106 family suites for parliamentarians for which Rs1 billion have been provided.

The other major allocations made under the Public Sector Development Programme for the CDA include Rs300 million for the construction of Chirah Dam, Rs300 million for the construction of additional third and fourth lanes to the Kashmir Highway from Peshawar Morr (9th Avenue intersection) up to Golra Morr and Rs200 million for the construction of second hangar at the heliport in Islamabad.

Capital Development Authority Member-Financial Adviser Saeed ur Rehman, when contacted, told ‘The News’ that out of these only the addition of third and fourth lanes to the existing two-lane Kashmir Highway is the project jointly executed by the CDA with assistance from the federal government through the PSDP allocations.

“In addition to this, there is an allocation of Rs31.746 million for the construction of the IJ Principal Road, which in fact is the balance allocation, while Rs45.271 million have been allocated for the Pak-China Friendship Centre between the Shakarparian hillock and the Rose & Jasmine Garden,” he told ‘The News’.

He said that the remaining allocations made for the CDA under the PSDP include Rs75.231 million for security arrangements at the Parliament House building, Rs26.175 million for rehabilitation-replacement of 32 lifts at the Pakistan Secretariat buildings, Rs37.700 million for the construction of residential and non-residential accommodation for police at Aiwan-e-Sadr, Rs18 million for the additional installation of split-package type air-conditioning units, providing-installation of fire alarm system and for CCTV system and procurement of spares for lifts at the Parliament House building, Rs17.346 million for upgradation-renovation of public address, simultaneous interpretation and automatic vote casting system installed in the Senate Hall at the Parliament Building and Rs14.113 for replacement of carpet in main prayer hall of the Faisal Mosque.

The CDA spokesman told ‘The News’ that under the head of Maintenance Grant a total of Rs1,596.808 million has been allocated by the Cabinet Division to the CDA in the annual budget for the financial year 2011-12.

Out of this Rs223.925 million have been allocated for the Parliament Building, Rs187.925 million for Aiwan-e-Sadr, Rs187.925 million for the Parliament Lodges, Rs37.304 million for AGPR Buildings and Rs959.729 million for other buildings.

Capital Development Authority Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, when contacted, told ‘The News’ that the Public Sector Development Programme allocations are made to the CDA as the civic body works as an executing agency for the federal government in carrying out various projects and maintenance-uplift-upkeep work. He said that the CDA, being the self-financed civic body, is engaged in preparing its own budget for the fiscal year 2011-12.

“Instead of going for launching mega projects this time we are more focused on smaller development projects aimed at bringing about a visible improvement in the outlook of the federal capital with more and more projects aimed at public facilitation instead of going for giant infrastructure projects,” the CDA chairman said.

Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said that the major objective would be to strengthen the unique ‘green and clean’ character of the federal city through more concerted efforts made in the environment sector through extensive tree plantation campaigns and improving the green areas presently available as well as creating more, the improvement of sanitation conditions through the public participation and widely conducted general public awareness campaigns.