ISLAMABAD: The revenue department of the district administration will begin acquiring land necessary for the construction of the Shahdara Dam, as the Capital Development Authority (CDA) advances with the project.
Located in the Shahdara area, the dam is projected to supply approximately 10 million gallons of water each day to residents of Islamabad.
During a meeting chaired by CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa, officials were directed to expedite the project’s initiation. A press release stated that WAPDA has already finalized the feasibility study, which covers preliminary estimates for land acquisition, water transportation infrastructure, and the water treatment facility.
The proposed dam will span 25 acres, and design work is expected to commence shortly. The PC-1 proposal will subsequently be submitted to the CDA’s Development Working Party for approval.
Randhawa instructed that Suparco conduct a comprehensive survey prior to the land acquisition process and stressed the importance of adhering to all legal procedures related to land matters.He further emphasized that the feasibility report and detailed design plans should be submitted to the water issues committee overseeing the twin cities for review and approval.
In related news, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced updated property valuation rates for Islamabad, responding to demands from local traders. The new valuations have reduced property values by 30 to 50 percent in various sectors.Under the revised valuations, residential and commercial plots across 68 locations in the capital have been re-evaluated. For example, in Sector B-17, the valuation for plots with possession has been decreased from Rs50,000 to Rs30,000 per square yard, while non-possession plots saw a reduction from Rs40,000 to Rs15,000 per square yard.
In some of Islamabad’s most upscale areas, property valuations have been significantly lowered: plots in Sector E-7’s possession rate were reduced from Rs600,000 to Rs225,000 per square yard, and in sectors F-6 and F-7, the rates dropped from Rs500,000 to Rs210,000 per square yard.These adjustments are expected to boost the real estate market by making property transactions more attractive and providing much-needed relief to buyers and sellers in the capital.
