Our Correspondent
Faisalabad
The Faisalabad Development Authority (FDA) is finalising the draft of a new master plan for Faisalabad, which will be shared with all stakeholders on March 23, 2021. It will cover the development related planning of Faisalabad city for the next 20 years, said Divisional Commissioner Saqib Mannan.
He was addressing the business community of Faisalabad at Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) here on Tuesday. He said that the last master plan of Faisalabad was announced in 1988. ‘At that time, the urban population was only a few lakhs,’ he said and added that this situation has now altogether changed during the last five decades, which has necessitated a new and comprehensive master plan. The commissioner said that the FDA would play a key role in the preparation of the master plan; however, he would ensure close liaison between the FCCI and the FDA so that proposals of the business community could also be included in it. He requested FCCI President Engineer Hafiz Ihtasham Javed to nominate his members for the purpose.
About toll-plaza set up right in the middle of Pindi-Bhattian Motorway, he said that he was not fully aware of the problem. ‘However he is ready to cooperate with the FCCI in order to facilitate masses,’ he added. About the distribution of property tax, the commissioner said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced two major development packages for Faisalabad. Out of Rs13 billion package, the first installment of Rs 4.1 billion had been received, which would be spent on the repair and maintenance of eleven roads. The remaining amount of the package would also be received during next two-and-a-half years, which would further improve the worthiness of almost all roads.
Saqib Mannan said that Faisalabad Municipal Corporation (FMC) was also floating tenders of Rs 1 billion during this month. He asked the business community to give their recommendations for improvement of civic amenities in the city. The commissioner agreed in principle with the FCCI president to install 25-30 cameras along canal road under safe cities project.
