Grand Auction of Residential & Commercial Plots Islamabad

CDA is offering a grand Auction of Residential and Commercial Plots in Developed Sectors of Islamabad. Residential plots are being offered in Sectors G-10,G-11, F-11 whereas Commercial plots are being offered in Markaz F-11, Markaz D-12, I & T ,G-10, F&V Market I-11, Industrial I-9, I-10, Economy Flat & Class III Shopping Centre G-11. This auction is scheduled to be held on 9th and 10 January, 2012 at the Holiday Inn Islamabad Hotel.

The Brochure can be downloaded here

Pakistan Handmade fashion show held in Capital

Pakistani flair hit the runway this weekend at "Pakistan Handmade," a U.S.-sponsored international fashion show and trade exhibition designed to help Pakistani artisans reach Western markets.  The event, held on June 25 - 26, was the culmination of USAID-funded initiatives to help women business-owners in Multan, Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore build and expand their businesses through export sales.

U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson opened the event, highlighting U.S. support for Pakistani industries.  "This event is more than a fashion show," Ambassador Patterson said. "It is also an opportunity to support women entrepreneurs in Pakistan and to introduce them to international buyers."

During the exhibition, nearly 40 artisans, businesses and handicrafts cooperatives showcased their products for international buyers, including 14 major U.S. wholesale buyers.  In preparation for the show, USAID provided six weeks of training and one-on-one assistance to 25 businesses covering product development, costing and pricing, communications, and the customer relations skills required to create internationally competitive firms.

Federal Capital would be transformed into Education City

Capital Development Authority is planning to transform the federal capital into a model education city to provide quality education to the students, especially those of under privileged segments of the society.

These views were expressed by Chairman, CDA, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi during his visit to education Expo – 2010 held at the Convention Centre Islamabad, today.

Chairman, CDA said that we are working on a proposal for making Islamabad an education city in consultation with stakeholders. He said that CDA has been mandated to regularize the Zone-IV and to control the damage done due to haphazard development in the area due to ill planned construction activities. He said that different reputed National and International Institutions would be invited to establish their campuses in the federal capital with a view to promote education and generate economic activities. He said that the education institutions would be asked to adhere to the principle of merit and low fee structure for providing educational opportunities to the low income class. He said that during the consultation process, CDA has got good response from the education institutions and business community for the venture.

He said that planning in this regard would be finalized in coming months and we are hopeful for the active participation of stakeholders. He said that capital city has huge potential for promoting education activities as Islamabad is a vibrant city where majority of people are interested to send their children.

Chairman, CDA said that major cities of the world have specific character and we want that the federal capital should also have distinctive features. Chairman, CDA said that CDA is making all out efforts to preserve the Margalla National Parks especially the biodiversity of the area.

He said that different awareness programmes would be initiated to educate school students about the rich bio-diversity of Margalla hill National Park which is inhabited by more than 300 species.   

He said that rather than going for big projects, CDA in future will focus on even handed development of the city. He said that the purpose oriented and public welfare projects will be initiated in future in consultation with the residents of the city. He said that promotion of education activities and provision of affordable transportation as well as up-gradation of civic facilities are the priorities of the Authority. He said that CDA would launch affordable public transport in this fiscal year. He said that CDA is the first municipality to introduce rain water harvesting programme to benefit from primary source of water – the rain. He said that more than 20 sites would be operational before the on set of moon-soon, this year.

Rain turns weather pleasant in twin cities

Showers on Wednesday turned the weather pleasant in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, providing people a few hours of joy and happiness.

According to the Meteorological Office, the rain has dropped temperature to 24 degrees centigrade, which has been touching 36-40 degrees centigrade for the last many days.

Chief Meteorologist Mohammad Hanif told ‘The News’ that the temperature has fallen down in Rawalpindi to 24 degrees centigrade due to the Wednesday’s showers.

He said that dry weather would start on Thursday in most parts of the country, including twin cities. From June 14, the weather would again turn pleasant, he said.

The heat-stricken people of twin cities thronged parks and other recreational spots to enjoy the weather.

Online vehicle registration system in Islamabad

The Islamabad Traffic Police plans to launch an online registration system to facilitate people in getting hassle-free registration of their vehicles, said SSP Islamabad Traffic Police Dr Moeen Masood.
During his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), he said that the ICT Traffic Police also plans to provide a points-based driving license, which will be issued in the shape of a smart card.
He said the purpose of going for points-based license is to improve the compliance of traffic rules because on violation of certain points, the license will be cancelled for a certain period keeping in view the extent of violations.
Dr Masood said a massive awareness campaign will soon be launched to educate the drivers and conductors of public transport for effective compliance of traffic rules. He asked businessmen to cooperate with ICT Traffic Police for making this drive a success.
According to ICCI press release, Dr Moeen visited the chamber to discuss the possibilities of collaboration with business community for improving roads and lanes marking, especially at Crossings and Chowks of Islamabad, including parking areas of markets to facilitate the commuters.
Speaking on the occasion, Zahid Maqbool, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) said that ICT Traffic Police has improved its image greatly by its good performance. “However, still there is a lot of room for reforms,” the ICCI President remarked.
He suggested that red light signal violators should be given exemplary punishment because their undisciplined driving could prove fatal for others adding that motorcycle wheeling should be completely banned as it often leads to fatal accidents of youngsters.
He said ICT Traffic Police should visit colleges and universities to educate youngsters about the dangers of wheeling adding that workshops and seminars should also be arranged for proper education of people about safety measures while driving and compliance of traffic rules.

Islamabad Carnival Park attracting large crowds

Bringing joy to children and contentment to parents, a colourful new addition of international standard — the Carnival Park in the vicinity of Lake View Park — is indeed a welcome step by the authorities.
A large number of children are found enjoying the Ferris Wheel, Bumper Cars and Boats, Free Fall, Family Swinger and Missile Simulator at the recently facility that opened only recently. Some other features include Choco Cups, slides and Mini Jets. Though the choice of rides is quite limited, strict observance of safety measures under the supervision of trained staff and quality of rides is an entirely new experience for visitors. “We have imported these rides from Italy and UK for we wanted to make it a recreational place of international standard for children,” said Yasir Hameed, owner of the facility.
He said that experts from these countries fixed the rides and also trained staff on the safety aspects. “We are also keeping the rate of tickets low as compared to other entertainment facilities in the Lake View Park so that people belonging to all classes can enjoy the visit,” he said. Yasir said that work on second phase of the park would start in October when the number of rides would be increased besides establishing a 4-D cinema for children. “The plan is to slowly develop an entertainment place of international standard for children instead of compromising on quality to save time,” he said claiming that this facility was the first of its kind in the country.
The most striking feature of the park is the presence of trained staff to ensure safety of children on rides. The staff members, mostly girls, ensure that safety belts are fastened properly and instruct children on the safety measures.
Talking to ‘The News’, one staff member said that parents had appreciated the idea of ensuring safety measures at such places.
Regarding the behaviour of people towards female staff, she said that no one among their team had experienced any uncivilized behaviour or gesture from visitors. “Parents, especially mothers, rather appreciate us for our professionalism,” she said.
The facility has also broken the monotony of slides and swings, the only features of play areas developed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) over the past few years. Though a positive contribution of the town planners, many of these play areas are often seen lying empty or are in use by adults trying to re-live their childhood. Others have become home to taxi drivers who find these places good enough for napping and washing their vehicles.
The Japanese Park is perhaps another big facility, but its charm too over the years seems to have faded with rides and obstacles that some children find hard to clear and its lawns not as well maintained, as they once used to be.
Another largely appreciated facility for kids is the recently developed Children’s Park at Fatima Jinnah Park. Though lacking in some basic facilities, the rides draw large crowd especially on weekends. It is indeed good that entertainment of children has formed part of the development plans of Capital Development Authority.

New face of F-9 Park – a breath of fresh air

It may not be the Hyde Park that the elite so often refer to, yet one of Islamabad’s parks is coming up beautifully – a picture of creativity at its best.

The sprawling Fatima Jinnah Park in F-9 is today a sight for sore eyes although only one section spanning 40 acres has been developed so far.

Lush green lawns and flowerbeds greet visitors with the winding walkways and ponds making a stroll in the park come as a breath of fresh air. The intelligently done lighting along the paths adds to the ambiance as do the benches that complement well with nature.

This section of the park has indeed come a long way since the days when it used to be barren tract of land. There was not much greenery, no flowers and no proper lighting.

Today sprinklers water the lawns and poetry pools stand out, as does a sitting area that serves more as a viewpoint. In a pond nearby, the croaks of frogs fill the evening air.

A complete children’s zone is one of the newest additions with rides that are the first of their kind in Pakistan. No wonder the parents are impressed and the kids excited.

“I haven’t seen anything like this before, this zone has been so tastefully developed,” remarked Ali Javed, a father of two. “I am particularly amazed by the thoughtfulness of the authorities for laying out matting to avoid kids getting hurt,” he said.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has quite a few plans chalked out as it goes about developing another 200 acres of the park.

Dr Faisal Awan, Director at CDA’s Project Management Office told Daily Times on Sunday that a central square running alongside the existing cricket ground is to be established. “This will be the place where exhibitions and fares could take place,” he said.

While the park’s landscaping and other work is on in a big way, the authorities also intend to set up a few ‘old’ bookshops in a bid to revive the trend. “We had so many such shops but most of them have disappeared with time,” Dr Awan said.

But the CDA, respecting the park’s sanctity is seemingly treading cautiously in developing it to avoid any backlash just as it had to face after giving the go-ahead to an international food chain to establish its outlet.

Responding to people’s needs, the city fathers would have hawkers going around selling juice, water and stuff while also setting up small kiosks along the jogging tracks.

A citizen’s club is also to come up. “It would be a better version of the Islamabad Club which is to be built by CDA but would be run by a management committee,” Dr Awan said.

Similarly, as part of park’s development the cricket ground is being improved as are the tennis courts. Clearly, the park is being transformed in a manner that even the minutest of details are being taken into account. Once complete this facility promises to be the stuff from the top drawer.