Muzaffarabad: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister (PM) Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan on Tuesday issued instructions for the authorities to create a comprehensive master plan for Muzaffarabad to accommodate its modern-day requirements, according to news sources.
The prime minister gave these instructions while chairing a meeting of the Muzaffarabad Development Authority. The said meeting also decided that after the segregation of the Muzaffarabad Development Authority and Municipal Corporation, their powers will be specified separately.
PM Ilyas Khan opined that even though it was difficult to manage old cities, it is imperative to create a comprehensive master plan to secure future generations. He said that 8,000 kanals are required to meet the demands of the ever-growing population in the city and that planned construction in line with the building codes is essential because Muzaffarabad is located on a geological fault line.
The prime minister stated that building bylaws should be enacted to preserve the city’s beauty and curb mushrooming of illegal constructions. He also hinted that help from Lahore Development Authority can be sought to this effect.
Additionally, it was decided that a grand operation will be held to remove encroachments from the city. The administration vowed to take strict measures to ensure organised construction within the city to cater to the population growth.
Other decisions included the development of museums, historical figures’ monuments and libraries to highlight the metropolis’s ancient heritage. The meeting also agreed to develop cafes, food streets and recreational areas along Neeum and Jhelum rivers.
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