By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Deputy DG Environment at the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Irfan Azeem Khan Niazi on Friday announced that the Prime Minister was prioritizing beautification efforts, focusing on planting allergy-friendly trees and inaugurating two flyovers, to enhance the city’s aesthetic appeal and livability.
In an exclusive conversation with PTV News Channel, the DG disclosed that two new flyovers at D Chowk and Shaheen Chowk will be inaugurated within the next two to three days, depending on the Prime Minister’s availability.
He emphasized that these flyovers were part of the ongoing efforts to improve the capital’s infrastructure. “The Interior Minister has strictly advised CDA DG that the focus remain not only on the timely construction of the flyovers but also on the beautification of the green spaces surrounding them. This includes the addition of flowering plants to enhance the city’s aesthetic appeal and environmental quality”.
He further added that the Faizabad remodeling project, which includes widening the roads and extending the loops, is nearing completion, adding, these upgrades will significantly enhance traffic flow in the area.
He also discussed the ongoing beautification of key interchanges, emphasizing that efforts to enhance their aesthetic appeal with greenery and landscaping are well underway.
Responding to a query about mulberry trees causing allergies for residents, he explained that when Islamabad was first developed, the population was much smaller, adding, however, with the growing population, the issue has become more prominent.
He assured that by Spring, Islamabad would be mulberry-free, with 75 percent of the work already completed.
Talking about park maintenance, he disclosed that there were 12 major parks in Islamabad, including the second phase of Lake View Park, which was set to begin soon.
He also mentioned that a comprehensive program is being introduced for community parks, along with the implementation of uniformed cards for food vendors.
In total, Islamabad has 320 parks total and efforts are underway to enhance their maintenance and facilities.
When asked about tree cutting, he explained that no one, including citizens, can cut or trim trees without obtaining permission from the CDA. He called for greater awareness of this policy to protect the city’s environment. In his concluding remarks, he highlighted that social media platforms were actively being used to address the citizen’s concerns, with the Chairman of CDA personally overseeing the matters. He emphasized that if any citizen reports a complaint, they receive a response directly from the CDA.
