CDA to follow revised masterplan for relief work
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—The Capital Development Authority will designate special areas in a revised masterplan of the capital for setting up relief camps and field hospitals in case of an emergency, a senior CDA official said Thursday. The revised plan for the capital is being prepared by a consultant hired by the CDA. The firm is expected to hand over the modified plan to CDA by the end of the current year.
The decision to earmark special areas for relief work has been taken in the light of experience during the emergency caused by last month’s devastating earthquake. Thousands of injured and displaced people were brought to the capital from quake-hit areas in Azad Kashmir and North West Frontier Province. The CDA had to set up relief camps to cope with the situation.
“Now we will identify special areas in the revised masterplan which can be used for relief camps, field hospitals and first aid centres in case of any emergency”, the official from the CDA Master Plan Cell said. The new plan will be made compatible with the physical, economic and demographic changes that the capital has witnessed over the past two decades, including substantial increase in population.
The consultant is handling the job under Rs10million contract. The revised plan would come up after completion before the CDA Board and if endorsed then it would be submitted to a federal cabinet committee for final approval. The official, citing an example of how the situation has changed, said in the past building maps made no room for a TV lounge which is now a must.
Dexiadas, a Greek planner, had prepared the first Masterplan of the Capital in 1960. In late 80s it was felt that the present master plan needs to be revised and a Master Plan Cell was set up in the CDA to formulate its recommendations for a revision.
The Cell submitted its report in 1992 and sent it to the Cabinet for approval, but it remained in limbo. Keeping in view the fast urbanization in Pakistan, it was felt again that the present Masterplan should be modified. The official said that the present government was taking keen interest in the matter.
He said commercial, residential and parking requirements would also be taken care of in the revised master plan which would cover a period of next 30 years. Islamabad has been steadily expanding as new residential sectors have been gradually opened. The official said the total number of sectors will increase to 45 under the revised plan.