CDA releases Rs 1 billion for Kashmir Highway

Under immense pressure from some influential, the bosses of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) have provided funds of Rs 1 billion for the reconstruction of Kashmir Highway, despite the fact that said amount was to be allocated for the development of Park Enclave housing scheme, Pakistan Today has learnt reliably. A senior CDA official, seeking anonymity, told Pakistan Today that the funds provided for the construction of Kashmir Highway were to be allocated for the development of Park Enclave, but pressure by some influential forced the CDA to put the development of Park Enclave on back burner.
“The authority take all the steps on pressure by some dominant circles, but such steps have put the Park Enclave, considered a jewel of Islamabad, in danger,” the source said, adding that some senior CDA officials also opposed the idea to provide funds for Kashmir Highway. However, the sudden transfer of Member Planning Tahir Shamshad, who was in favour of developing the Park Enclave on a priority basis, has also raised many eyebrows within the authority. “The member planning was looking after the Park Enclave and opposed the idea to allocate funds to Kashmir Highway project at a time when the Park Enclave should be completed on priority basis, which did not please the stakeholders of the authority and his transfer was also seems as a part of this whole scenario,” said the source.
He said an official of Planning Commission Abdul Aziz Qureshi was likely to take charge as new member planning. It is pertinent to mention that some of the contractors were trying hard to sabotage the Park Enclave, as the civic body was previously paying full attention to the development of said project, which could generate billion of rupees for the cash-strapped CDA.
“Some construction firms, including the one which is developing the Kashmir Highway, have written a unjust letter to the Transparency International (TI) couple of weeks ago and raised concerns about the short listing of construction firms for the Park Enclave,” the official said, adding that the aim of the letter apparently, was also a part of conspiracy against those who were in favour of Park Enclave’s development at the earliest.
Sources say the CDA is in urgent need to execute those projects which can generate funds for the civic body. The CDA chief has also claimed at a number of occasions to focus on generating funds. “But what reason force him to allocate funds for Kashmir Highway instead of developing the Park Enclave housing scheme will remain a question until he takes steps taken for early completion of Park Enclave,” said the official.
The source said the delaying tactics by CDA in development of Park Enclave had perturbed the successful allotees of plots, who were now forcing the CDA to pay back their money, which they had paid to it. On January 30, the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat also showed concern over delay in completion of Park Enclave, on which the CDA chief assured them to complete the project within 18 months. The Park Enclave is located on Park Road and Chak Shahzad at its intersection with the Kurri Road. The CDA is expecting to earn billion of rupees from the sale of the plots in the housing society. On the other hand, Kashmir Highway project is Rs 3 billion dual carriageway project, under which the road will have five lanes on either side from Golra Morr to Peshawar Morr, which is being widened mainly to provide fast access to the new airport being established in Fateh Jang, around 30 kilometres from the capital.
When contacted, CDA spokesman Ramzan Sajid dispelled the impression that transfer of member planning has any link with the allocation of funds for the construction of Kashmir Highway. “His (Tahir) transfer is a routine matter and nothing to do with Park Enclave or Kashmir Highway,” he said. But when this scribe asked Tahir was looking after the Park Enclave, he replied yes, adding that the person to be appointed to replace him would look after his responsibilities. He denied the fact that the funds of Park Enclave have been allocated for the construction of Kashmir Highway. He said the process to award the contract of Park Enclave was underway and would be finalised soon.