Sherpao opens Fatima Jinnah Park’s development work
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Tuesday inaugurated development work in the capital’s Fatima Jinnah Park, saying it was a landmark project in the history of Islamabad.
He vowed that national capital would be made a city of parks, which he said were as vital for a city as lungs for human body. A large of people from different walks of life, including senior officials of the ministry as well from the Islamabad administration and Capital Development Authority, attended the ceremony.
Sherpao said a National Monument being built at the Shakarparian hill, a project now close to completion, had been undertaken on the directive of President Pervez Musharraf and it would greatly add to the charms of “Islamabad - The Beautiful.” .
He said it was also planned to develop a “City Park” on 750 acres in Islamabad’s sector E-14 on the pattern of Fatima Jinnah Park. To overcome the growing shortage of housing units in the federal capital, there was a plan in hand to launch 10 new residential sectors in the next few years, he said.
A pilot project has also been prepared to protect the seasonal streams and water courses from various types of pollution, including effects of sewage water and throwing of waste, in order to keep the environment healthy and clean, he added.
The Minister said first phase of the Rawal Dam promenade would be completed next month and other such schemes would also be developed near the Simli Dam and in other areas like Lohi Bher.
He said the project of National Art Gallery in Islamabad was in the final phase and it would mirror the national culture and traditions.
Sherpao also announced a plan to set up public libraries in all residential sectors of the capital city to promote habit of learning among the people. The Minister said many new projects would be initiated to provide additional recreational facilities to the people.
CDA chairman Kamran Lashari, giving details of the work in Fatimah Jinnah Park, said a 40-acre area would be developed in the first phase of and work on another 100-acre area would be started next March. He said the project costing 4.5 billion rupees would be the biggest such scheme of the Authority.
Lashari said in the last two years CDA has developed 73 out of 174 parks in the capital and development work in remaining parks would be completed in the next few years. He said a sports astroturf would be laid for the first time in the city at a ground in sector F-6 and flood lights were being installed at existing playfields in all sectors.
Nayyar Ali Dada, designer of the Fatima Jinnah Park, said is one of best planned cities in the world and he emphasized the need to protect its ecological system. Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah was among those present on the occasion.