GDA okays Galiyat beautification projects

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak on Saturday said that amendment to Act 1996 was important to authorise the officials of Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) for prompt action against the encroachers, land grabbers and all those polluting environment in the scenic Galiyat region.
Chairing a meeting of the GDA Board of Authority, he said that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was committed to promoting tourism in the province and that the authority should not show any leniency to the violators of law.
Members Provincial Assembly Dr Azhar Jadoon, Sardar Muhammad Idrees, Akbar Ayub, Samad A Khan, KP chief secretary and other members of the board attended the meeting.
This was the first BoA meeting since the newly posted Secretary Sports and Tourism Azam Khan, who also DG GDA, took the charge. A number of projects related to development and beautification of Galiyat region were approved at the meeting, said a communiqué issued here said.
The board authorised the GDA to make necessary arrangements for the repair of chairlift facility in Ayubia. The meeting was informed that the telecommunication companies have shown great interest in overhauling of system and repair of facilities at Ayubia through public private partnership, which was immensely appreciated.
A master plan for Galiyat would be initiated to provide all the basic needs by studying structure design, soil mechanics of different areas. It will also be linked with waste disposal, water supply schemes and building bylaws.
Under the plan, the sites would be identified for the housing sector and tourist spots. The GDA was tasked to re-advertise the plan and hire a reputed firm in a transparent manner and blacklist the existing consultant. The meeting also approved land record management information system to create a secure, reliable, efficient, accountable and equitable system by hiring reputed firms and experts for launching of computerised land record on priority basis.
Approval was also given to Commencement of Complaint Cell, Redressal and information dissemination system, which will provide citizens, a direct access and share grievance handling, thereby reducing redundancy, operational overheads.
The participants were told that a solid waste management plant would be installed and the experts from the Abbottabad district administration would indentify site for this purpose.
The meeting appreciated the beautification plan of Galiyat and directed GDA to hold meetings with hotel/trader associations about the developing the bazaars on modern lines.
The plan includes development of rest houses, plantation, rainwater harvesting developments, rehabilitation of walking treks, development of food bazaar, face uplifting of bazaars and development of open terraces. The parks at Nathiagali, Ayubia, Khanaspur, Changlagali, Lalazar are in depilated condition. In order to create awareness and sense of ownership, GDA plans to arrange an open competition among the fine arts & architecture departments and noted artists to present innovative ideas for the further beautification of Galiyat region.