The concerned authorities have been asked to produce regional development plans (RDPs) for the Rawalpindi district and peri-urban structure plans for the tehsil headquarters.
According to the RDA official, a meeting was held at the Rawalpindi Development Authority to prepare the RDPs (RDA).
The meeting was presided over by Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Saqib Manan, while the consultant from Mott MacDonald Pakistan gave a presentation about regional development plans and informed participants that extensive work had been done for the preparation of RDPs for the tehsils of Gujar Khan, Taxila, Kallar Syedan, and Kahuta, and the data had been shared with concerned local governments for verification and inputs.
It was also determined that a coordination group comprised of planning officers from local governments and the RDA would be formed to ensure the coherence of urban and regional development plans. The commissioner praised the consultant’s efforts and assured him that the remaining deliverables could be delivered on schedule in collaboration with all stakeholders and the general public.
Moreover, he charged RDA Director General Mohammad Saif Anwar Jappa with furthering the overarching strategy.
He stated that the PMU and local governments should consult with RDA about it.
We have to complete this work within the shortest possible time frame, he added.
Mr. Jappa informed the gathering that the RDA, through its consultant, was already producing peri-urban plans and RDPs for Rawalpindi’s four tehsils.
Moreover, he stated that the PMU of the Local Government Department was preparing site development zones and urban planning for the Rawalpindi tehsil through a consultant. The DG demanded that the local administration clarify which authority will inform the four tehsils’ peri-urban plans.
The commissioner agreed with the DG’s idea, and it was determined that a letter would be written to the secretary of the Local Government and Community Development Department Punjab for an explanation so that all stakeholders could own the district plan.
Deputy commissioners of Attock, Chakwal, and Rawalpindi, district officers planning of Chakwal and Gujar Khan, director of local government, municipal officer planning Taxila, and other officials were also present in the meeting.