- Capital Development Authority fails to replicate Musharraf-Lashari era model of ‘Islamabad-The Beautiful’
ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) had set its eyes since 2016 on restoring, renovating and refurbishing F-6 Markaz, F-7, I-8 and other main markets. More than two years have lapsed yet the beautification process has failed to gather pace though the completion of multi-storey parking lots in Sector F-7, Jinnah Super Market has eased parking dilemmas faced by commuters.
One of oldest markets of Islamabad, Super Market, is frequented mostly by elites living in sectors F-7, F-6, G-6, F-8, F-10, E-7 and other upscale localities of the city. It is estimated that the CDA spent approximately 50 million rupees on modernisation and makeover efforts for F-6 Markaz during 2016-17.
On the ground, however, visitors to F-6 face poor availability of parking space.
The ever-increasing number of cars has an inverse relation with parking slots in the capital. Since its inception back in early 70’s, Jinnah Super has the same capacity for car parking. In addition to expanding parking space, basic amenities and work on footpaths and pavements is also direly needed.
It is pertinent to mention here that during former president Pervez Musharraf’s era, CDA Chairman Kamran Lashari took it upon himself to ‘beautify’ Islamabad. Libraries, gyms were made in many sectors, Peer-Sohawa and Damn-e-Koh were rebuilt, Pakistan Monument was constructed from scratch and a great many other feats were undertaken and completed. It seems that CDA and Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) are taking their cue from the former chairman and work he did during his tenure. However, with hydra-headed dilemmas facing the civic agency in the form of stop-gap measurements and nepotism has proved to be the impediment in replicating the Lashari model.
CDA made it in the news of late for all the wrong reasons as during past one year due to cancellation of the lease of Grand Hyatt Hotel, shutting down and reopening of the Safa Gold Mall and a power struggle between MCI and CDA. NAB references and FIA inquiries have also tainted the reputation of the civic agency.
The embattled mayor of Islamabad, Sheikh Ansar Aziz, whose position is precarious at best managed to wriggle the control of three major parks of Islamabad namely Lake View Park, F-9 Fatima Jinnah Park and Marghazar Zoo to MCI along with passage of 10 billion rupees grant.