A New Islamabad across Margallas, linked by a tunnel

[Areesh]

ISLAMABAD: On the direction of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the CDA is presently working day and night on an estimated US$12 billion “dream project” that includes building a twin capital across the Margalla Hills, connecting the twins with a tunnel and copying Dubai’s Shaikh Zayed Avenue, a major business and tourist attraction, writes Ansar Abbasi.

Official sources revealed that the construction of two ring roads in Rawalpindi-Islamabad and a new airport at Rawat, Rawalpindi, are also part of this mega project which, as soon as finalised, would be announced by the prime minister himself.

The recent story of The News talking about the CDA’s campaign to acquire 25,000 acres of land for the establishment of an “Economic Zone and Multipurpose Zone”, is also part of the same mega project.

The sources said that the incumbent chairman CDA had been asked by the prime minister to work on this project on a war footing to ensure that this huge project materialises at the earliest.

Talking about the salient features of the project, these sources said that there was a proposal to build a new Islamabad across the Margalla Hills and then connect both the new Islamabad and the old Islamabad through a tunnel.


The Islamabad Highway starting from the Blue Area to Rawat would be widened to eight to 10 lanes with commercial multistoreyed buildings on both sides as is the case of Dubai’s Shaikh Zayed Road. The new international airport would be built at Rawat. It would also be connected with the Lahore-Islamabad Motorway.

The sources said that the government expects to earn billions of dollars by offering commercial plots on both sides of the proposed widened Islamabad Highway, which would serve as key economic and multipurpose zone.

Similarly, it is expected that the new Islamabad plots would also earn billions of dollars. The sources said that foreign investors, particularly the overseas Pakistanis, would be wooed to invest in this project. of Rawalpindi and Islamabad two ring roads are also proposed to be constructed.

This huge project would be implemented through a limited company- Pakistan Avenue Development Company- recently approved by the CDA Board.The CDA has started acquiring 25,000 acres, almost equal to 42 villages of Rawalpindi, for the establishment of “Economic Zone and Multipurpose Zone at public expense,” which as reported by The News recently would cost more than Rs70 billion to the civic authority.

For the same purpose the Punjab government also issued a notification on August 15, 2013, stating: “Office of the Collector of District Rawalpindi. Notification u/s 4 of The Land Acquisition Act 1984. Whereas it appears to the collector of District Rawalpindi that land is likely to be taken by the Capital Development Authority (Chairman’s Secretariat), Islamabad, through its company—“Pakistan Avenue Development Limited”— for public purpose, namely, for the Establishment of Economic and Multi-purpose Zone at public expense. It is hereby notified that the land described below is likely to be acquired for the said purpose.”The collector of District Rawalpindi has already authorised survey of the land and other necessary acts required for the proper execution of this work.

A New Islamabad across Margallas, linked by a tunnel - thenews.com.pk

 

[Leader]

this is quite an old project if im not mistaken !

p.s.
plus I heard some historic places/villages would be demolished, better preserve them, they wont harm the project.

> massive money is to be earned by timber mafia <

This economic zone should be built in Gawadar !

 

[Mugwop]

this is quite an old project if im not mistaken !

p.s.
plus I heard some historic places/villages would be demolished, better preserve them, they wont harm the project.

which historic places?

 

[Leader]

Punjab initiates Rs70 bn land deal for economic zone

CDA being used to acquire 25,000 acres of land in 42 villages of Rawalpindi

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has started acquiring 25,000 acres, almost equal to 42 villages of Rawalpindi, for the establishment of &#8220;Economic Zone and Multipurpose Zone at public expense,&#8221; which will cost more than Rs70 billion to the civic authority, The News has learnt.

Mere development of this scale would require money which would be twice the entire budget of the CDA, officials said.Tongues are wagging that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz&#8217;s deals with the Chinese have compelled the CDA to hurriedly establish a limited company to start acquiring the land in the suburbs of Rawalpindi, mostly centuries old villages while the authority is yet to explain what a &#8220;multi-purpose zone would have&#8221;.

The sources said that housing societies parallel to these 42 villages are purchasing the land for Rs250,000 to Rs300,000 per that the CDA has plans to offer 10 percent of the market rate to the land owners which would result in litigation on a mass scale.

The sources said that if the CDA offers Rs100,000 per kanal even then it would require Rs20 billion to get the land while the compensation for built up structures are apart from it. Moreover, it would require billions to get the land levelled for any type of economic or multipurpose activity, the sources maintained.

A few weeks ago, CDA&#8217;s board gave the approval for establishing a limited company, Pakistan Avenue Development Limited, while in the meeting, it was reported that the CDA chairman told the board members that they were establishing this limited company because the prime minister had approved setting up of this company and after that this issue had been brought into the meeting of the CDA board.

CDA bosses were reluctant to talk about the issue and referred the matter to the official spokesman, but the CDA spokesman, when contacted, said that he has been posted out of the CDA, so the authority has no spokesman.

Documents reveal that the Punjab Gazette published a notification on August 15, 2013, states: &#8220;Office of the Collector of District Rawalpindi. Notification u/s 4 of The Land Acquisition Act 1984.

Whereas it appears to the collector of District Rawalpindi that land is likely to be taken by the Capital Development Authority (Chairman&#8217;s Secretariat), Islamabad, through its company&#8212;&#8220;Pakistan Avenue Development Limited&#8221;&#8212; for public purpose, namely, for the Establishment of Economic and Multi-purpose Zone at public expense. It is hereby notified that the land described below is likely to be acquired for the said purpose.

The notification is made under Section 4 of Land Acquisition Act, 1894, to all whom it may concern. In exercise of the powers conferred by the aforesaid section, the collector of District Rawalpindi is pleased to authorize the officers and their servants for the time being engaged on this undertaking to enter upon survey land and to do all other acts required for the proper execution of their work as provided for or specified in the said section&#8221;.

Details of the villages include, 727 kanals in Khasala Kalan; 6,161 in Khasala Khurd; 2,374 in Chahan; 1,579 in Maira Kinger/ Maira Khurd; 1,151 in Maira Kalan; 1,056 in Dhala; 2,567 in Pind Chatla; 5,342 in Adiala; 5006 in Jabber Miana; 1,606 in Dera; 15,162 in Takht Peri; 14,123 in Gangal; 8,449 in Mian Ahmada; 8,483 in Dhapai; 8,165 in Taraiya; 783 in Morha Phapra;

11,815 in Nakrali; 9,467 in Ghandiya; 752 in Chak Thoba; 661 in Phundli; 4,553 in Chak Khas; 683 in Pind Mubarak; 2823 in Sarhandi; 768 in Daweri; 1502 in Sambal; 5480 in Kotla; 9,627 in Jabba; 7,387 in Lilla Kamalpur; 2,805 in Bhattiyan Noordin; 2,155in Hoshyal; 3,000 in Morha Garr; 405 in Bagh Rajgaan; 3,993 in Mohra Langer; 3825 in Sangra; 2137in Gahal; 6157in Gogra; 4,411in Sood; 5,621 in Khinger Kalaan; 9, 762 in Katariaan; 10,487 in Thatta Gidpur; 7,170 in Chappar and 704 kanals in village AnturPur.

The sources said that the CDA has not been able to develop any new sector in the last many years, yet it is going for an adventure of establishing an economic zone/multi-purpose zone which would require twice the annual budget of the CDA.

The sources maintained that recently PML-N struck deals with Chinese and all this land is being acquired for the Chinese. &#8220;Under the laws, if Punjab government acquires any land for health purpose, it cannot utilize the land for any other purpose then; therefore, to have a multi-purpose zone in Punjab, the idea of acquiring land through the CDA was floated and a limited company Pakistan Avenue Development Company was established within no time,&#8221; the sources said.

The staff of Land Revenue Division was secretly called in the office of district collector during the month of Ramazan and were told to submit details of land in the said 42 villages while the owners of land in these villages never had a hint that they would be deprived of their land soon, the sources added.

Punjab initiates Rs70 bn land deal for economic zone - thenews.com.pk

this is the one that one should read.

which historic places?

Dont know just remember that I heard someone saying when this project was visioned, its not a new project thats for sure.

 

[Mugwop]

Dont know just remember that I heard someone saying when this project was visioned, its not a new project thats for sure.

I don't think we got any historical places there? If this project requires removal of villages then I'd say go for it.
Villages aren't doing us much good and most villagers don't want their kids to get an education.

 

[Panther 57]

I don't think we got any historical places there? If this project requires removal of villages then I'd say go for it.
Villages aren't doing us much good and most villagers don't want their kids to get an education.

Though I am for such innovative ideas, but we should not think village and villagers should be looked down upon. Village has its own aesthetics and most of the villages in Pakistan are providing for our agricultural produce. We should not convert agriculture land into housing society. Because as along as Pakistan can meet its food demand it will be strong enough to sustain any pressure. By commercialising agriculture land we may be developing beautiful societies to live, but in fact we are cutting off our back bone. We should build new cities and develop those areas which are not contributing to our agriculture.

 

[AUz]

Where they'll get 12 billion dollars though?

 

[Edevelop]

^^ Through Foreign and Local investments of course.

 

[Panther 57]

^^ Through Foreign and Local investments of course.

In my opinion we should stop relying on foreign investments. There are many ways local investment can be raised. e.g. forming a public limited company who raises funds through floating of shares and then dividends are distributed through collection of toll.

 

[RAMPAGE]

This economic zone should be built in Gawadar !

yara gwadar and islamabad are two very different things. what we need is an industrial city in balochistan with its own cheap power generation capacity and very low tariffs for the industry. it'll create jobs,cheap labor and bring local/foreign investment ..... which will benefit both public and corporates !!!

@Dillinger @Armstrong

what say you guys?

 

[Panther 57]

yara gwadar and islamabad are two very different things. what we need is an industrial city in balochistan with its own cheap power generation capacity and very low tariffs for the industry. it'll create jobs,cheap labor and bring local/foreign investment ..... which will benefit both public and corporates !!!

Very rightly pointed out. Balochistan is an area where a number of cities can be built. Thus, reducing burden on cosmopolitans as well. People will find jobs in near vicinity and would prefer to stay in their locale rather than moving to bigger cities.

 

[RAMPAGE]

Very rightly pointed out. Balochistan is an area where a number of cities can be built. Thus, reducing burden on cosmopolitans as well. People will find jobs in near vicinity and would prefer to stay in their locale rather than moving to bigger cities.

yara cheap labor and cheap energy is the key to modern industrialization !!!

 

[Panther 57]

yara cheap labor and cheap energy is the key to modern industrialization !!!

I tend to disagree. Improved lifestyle and rationalised profits is the key to modern industrialisation. Problem with our industrialist is that they want to maximize profit. Philosophy of high turn over and lower profit margins is the best to improve life styles, yet achieve modern industrialisation.

 

[MM_Haider]

instead of planting trees .. this stupid govt is is planting more concrete.. why don't they build high rise building on constitution avenue if this is the requirement... not good for environment.. and what is this new airport near rawat??? what about existing one which was under bloody construction... there is no rule of law in pakistan.. projects are made as the powerful politicians please...

 

[Leader]

yara gwadar and islamabad are two very different things. what we need is an industrial city in balochistan with its own cheap power generation capacity and very low tariffs for the industry. it'll create jobs,cheap labor and bring local/foreign investment ..... which will benefit both public and corporates !!!

we need to invest in Gawadar thats all I know, all the rest are cosmetic, plus there is a strong feeling of being neglected in Balochistan, the sentiment are genuine that must be addressed.

we can make this economic zone in Gawadar by investing this money there, or is it we are too afraid of Iran and UAE elements?