Text by: Muhammad Qasim
Federal seat and
allied functions are planned and developed at the north eastern portion of Islamabad Islamabad Margalla Hills National Park
by the Government of Pakistan in 1980 with the purpose to protect the quality
of lake water for drinking purpose and to enhance the environment of Islamabad Islamabad
The transportation
network of Islamabad Islamabad , Murree now Kashmir ,
Soan and Capital highways are planned. The GT road is accommodated in the plan
with a larger width.
Grid system of axis of 2100 yards has been envisaged
to create the major urban areas. This Modulus creates communities of Class-V i. e. an urban sector, each having an area
of 911.15 acres. The population of an urban sector ranges from 20-40000
persons. This class-V community further subdivided into Class IV human scale
communities to Class-I communities on square base system. The focal point of
the Class IV community has its center as commercial while the focal point for
the community-III is elementary school. Play ground is the focal point for community class-II and a garden or square
for the children is the focal point for the Community class-I.
On the basis of the Classes of the communities
different levels of commercial areas are planned and developed. Class-III shopping centers (for daily needs
within short radius of influence) are
for Class-III community and Class-IV Shopping centers are for the class-IV
community. Class-V commercial centers i.e. Marakiz (facility of frequent need
enclosed within the center) for the Class-V communities i.e. Urban sectors. For
city level Class-VI Shopping Center i.e. Blue area (for more specialized
and less frequent needs) is provided as a spine of the city to fulfill the
commercial needs of the residents of Islamabad
Blue area was originally with varying depth and
alignment forming the Central Core of the Capital. The volume of the blue area
is increased with its evolution towards
southwest so as to remain adequately accessible for the expanded
urban sectors of Islamabad Islamabad
The requirement
of commercial need was calculated on the basis of one shop for 16
families or for 80 people excluding the shops in the Industrial and trade
centers for specific uses. Researches
indicate that when this situation is
compared with the other standards i.e. one shop for 95 families it shows highly
over provision of commercial shops/ area
in Islamabad
Federal Government issued an SRO in 2007 according to
which construction on unutilized patches of land and astride major roads within
built-up areas in Zone-4 were permitted Subject to permission from CDA on the basis
of healthy planning parameters. Subsequently Supreme Court of Pakistan took SUO
MOTO action with respect to non conforming uses prevalent in Islamabad Islamabad SRO
Islamabad Highway
In pursuance of directions of Supreme court of Pakistan
One of the prescribed general provisions for zone-IV
is that commercial activity astride defined major roads shall be permissible on
selected locations. The area adjacent to the Islamabad Highway
Previous research studies proved that over provision
of commercial areas are envisaged in the Master Plan of Islamabad. Reportedly
CDA is planning to induct commercial activity of high class within the area of Islamabad Kashmir Highway
Over provision of commercial activity at different
location will also affect the financial viability of Blue area. Blue area is developed up to seventh series.
In 8th series only Centurus has been constructed. If a parallel plan of
commercial activities is followed in the ROW of Islamabad and Kashmir Highways
it will violate the provisions of Islamabad Master Plan and over provision will
also reduce the proceeds of the commercial property in Planned Blue area by at
least 50%. In addition the ribbon development within the highways will also
reduce the accessibility for the areas located in the rear and pose traffic
problems and threaten the human safety. It will also create noise pollution and
create adverse environmental impacts upon the residents.
The saleable area of Blue area in F-6 and G-6 is about
200,000 Sq Yds. and almost the same is in the F-7 and G-7. The recent average
auction rate of Blue area is Rs. 400,000.00 per Sq. yd. If Blue area is
continued up to 16th series the total saleable area of the Blue area becomes
18,00,000 Sq. Yds. Estimated revenue generated will be Rs. 720.00 billions. If
50% rate is reduced due to over provision by creating another Blue area in the
ROW of Islamabad Highway it causes a loss of Rs. 360.00 billions is accrued to
CDA.
Highways are not only roads to accommodate traffic
these are also to serve as communication and utility corridors. Reduction in
the width of highways will also affect its character. Highways with lesser
width will not be able to accommodate the main services, rails, high tension
lines and other communications along with the future manifold traffic volume.
Highways are to be built at lower level to save the surrounding
areas from the noise pollution. Wide green strips planned in the ROWs of
highways are helpful in absorbing the Green house gases emitted from burning of
fossil fuels used in the vehicles and in this way mitigating the adverse
environmental impacts. Reduction in the width of highways will also expose the
residents of Islamabad
CDA acquired Large Chunks of land in Islamabad
Reportedly CDA is also planning for commercial
activity named Gandhara Triangle near Nicolson Monument Qauid-i-Azam University falling in Zone-III which is reserved for
conservation, afforesatation, preservation and green area projects dismantling
all regulations made to achieve sustainable development of Islamabad
CDA is a self financing Organization. The development of Islamabad Islamabad would
be hampered and ultimately it will affect the sustainability of Islamabad Islamabad
will not reach to the residents of Islamabad
All the above activities will affect the
sustainability of Blue area and of Islamabad and are violative of provisions of
Islamabad Master Plan and resultantly will change the prescribed land uses and
also destroy the environment of Islamabad. It will expose the residents of Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad Islamabad