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ISLAMABAD (February 08, 2011) : The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to launch a massive operation to evacuate its land and has demanded support from Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration and Islamabad Police in order to make this operation a success.

The decision to launch operation was taken in a meeting held on Monday with Chairman CDA, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi in the chair while Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Tariq Pirzada, senior officers of ICT Administration, Islamabad Police and other concerned departments also participated.

A Co-ordination Committee consisting of the representatives of CDA, ICT Administration and Islamabad Police was constituted to monitor the development regarding evacuation and recovery of land from illegal occupation. During the meeting Chairman CDA, Imtiaz Inayat Elahi apprised the participants that the land was acquired in 1960s. With the passage of time people started to encroach and built property on CDA land, he added.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has directed CDA to get the land vacated and start development work, the CDA chief said, adding that after apex court orders the CDA evacuated 300 kanals of land in Malpur area in addition to vast stretches of land in other areas of the federal Capital.

Elahi also informed the meeting that the operation was being conducted on regular basis in this regard, especially, clearing the right of way along Kashmir Highway. He said that a comprehensive strategy in this regard has been prepared to get the remaining land vacated.

He said that the media would be taken on board. He said that public notice has been published in the national media warning the encroachers to vacate the CDA land within 7 days. He said that the Supreme Court of Pakistan was being apprised on regular basis in this regard.

He said that CDA was reinforcing its Enforcement Directorate to execute the operation. He said that a system of awards was being formulated to acknowledge the efforts of the officers and officials participating in the operation. Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Tariq Pirzada assured the full support of ICT administration to CDA for evacuation of the land illegally occupied by people.

A special team would monitor the areas to facilitate the staff, Pirzada said, adding that the support of the locals should also be sought in addition to taking the media on board on the issue. He said that all out efforts would be made to get the land vacated. The representative of Islamabad Police also assured full co-operation in the operation saying that police would be fully participating in the operation as and when required.

PC for establishing land privatisation commission: releasing state-owned land for commercial purposes
ISLAMABAD (February 08, 2011) : The Planning Commission (PC) has proposed a land privatisation commission to release all the unproductive land owned by the state for commercial purposes. In its paper titled ‘new growth framework, it proposed that the government ownership of city-centre land needed to be reduced to strengthen the decentralisation to allow city planners adequate control over their land and resources.

The government ownership is retarding growth, therefore, land banks at provincial level be set up to release idle state-owned land in favour of dense mixed use places to encourage public-private partnerships. The current state of cities in Pakistan is abysmal and urban population is escalating at a rapid rate of 3 percent with the existing urban population of 60 million (36% of the total population).

The city dwellers do not have much say in the running of the city. But a great deal of involvement by the government bodies is apparent in taking managerial and administrative decisions. The prevalent confusion regarding how modern cities should be governed is growing acute. The lack of affordable space and poor commercial laws has hindered the growth of cities.

There is need that all legislative bodies must review rent laws and remove clauses which unjustifiably favour tenants and restrict the functioning of the rental market, zoning laws should be improved and made transparent and modernise land registration system by electronically recording all transfers of land title in a centralised data base.

Housing information system should be established to provide data on housing demand and supply from the district level to the national level. It should also include Housing Price Index and Housing Access Index with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Statistics. A regulatory body must also be established for property dealers to register themselves officially. Relax zoning and building regulations to enable dense development of housing and vertical expansion.

There is a need to reduce cost of construction by encouraging foreign developers to compete in the Pakistani market and facilitate research and development in low cost and energy efficient construction techniques. Increase access to housing finance through sound foreclosure laws and computerised credit information. Curtail growth of Katchi Abadis by using market based solutions to produce low income housing. The above stated issues need immediate reform efforts so that appropriate economic geography can help Pakistan grow better, the paper added.