Govt okays converting green area into residential sectors in Islamabad’s revised master plan

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has approved major changes in the Islamabad Master Plan including the reduction of right of way and conversion of green areas into residential sectors.

With the revision in the federal capital’s master plan, the government has claimed the territory dispute between Islamabad and Rawalpindi has been resolved.

The cabinet approved that the northern area of sectors H-13, H-14, H-15, and H-17 set aside for green areas and buffer zones will be converted into residential sectors.

The cabinet also approved converting the southern half of the above-mentioned sectors, which was reserved for institutions, into residential sectors.

It was also decided that the said un-acquired H series sectors are no longer part of CDA’s Zone I and will be exempted from land acquisition. Therefore, the CDA will not acquire them and they would be regulated through special regulations, the summary of the interior ministry which was approved by the cabinet read.

Apart from that, the federal cabinet has reduced the “right of way” of Srinagar Highway in various areas.

The summary said that under the existing rules, the 1200 feet wide right of way of the Srinagar Highway in the north of H-13 has been reduced by 400 feet to 800 feet.

Similarly, the right of way of 13th Avenue between H-12 and H-13 has been reduced from 600 feet to 300 feet. A 600 feet section of the right of way of 14th Avenue between H-13 and H-14 has been removed from the master plan.

Furthermore, a 600 feet right of way of 15th Avenue between H-14 and H-15 has also been eliminated.

Furthermore, the cabinet meeting summer said, “Buildings in the north of H-13 sector, including in the 300 feet of unacquired ‘right of way’, can be constructed under the ICT Building Control Rules, subject to payment of the prescribed fee.”

The cabinet has converted the 2,700 feet northern stretch along the Srinagar Highway, which was earlier reserved for the green area or buffer zone, into a residential sector.

Moreover, the cabinet approved that a portion of the federal city is in the administrative jurisdiction of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB).

The RCB would regulate the area to the west of the Railway Line, while the area to the east of the Railway Line will be regulated by Islamabad’s civic body.

It was also decided that there would be no claim of RCB in I-12, G-13, G-14, and H-13.