Close coordination between ABAD, cantonment boards sought

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Director General of the Military Lands & Cantonments, Major General (R) Furrukh Rashid, has announced that the building bye-laws in the cantonment areas would be amended in the light of suggestions from the Association of Builders & Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) in order to upgrade them technologically.

He made the announcement while talking to a delegation of ABAD, led by its chairman, Junaid Ashraf Taloo, which called on him at his office. The Additional Director General, Military Lands & Cantonments, Amir Rashid also attended the meeting. 

The ABAD delegation included chairman, Junaid Ashraf Taloo, Vice Chairman, Mohammad Hanif Memon, Chairman Southern Region, Mohammad Hassan Bakshi, Ex Senior Vice Chairman, Saleem Kassim Patel, Convener Cantonment Boards Sub-Committee, Arif Siddik, Co Convener, Cantonment Boards Sub-Committee, Haroon Karim and members Rizwan Adhia and Mahmood Tabba. 

DG Furrukh Rashid, while appreciating the role of ABAD in the promotion of construction industry, assured that issues of members of ABAD engaged in construction activities in cantonment areas will be resolved on priority. 

Saleem Kassim Patel gave a detailed briefing on the role of members of ABAD and demanded close coordination between ABAD, the Director’s Office and the offices of Cantonment Boards. 

Arif Siddik highlighted the issues of delays in the approval of projects of some members of ABAD. A detailed appraisal of delayed projects of members of ABAD was also done during the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, 

Junaid Ashraf Taloo suggested that in view of the delay in the approval of projects, the process of approval of projects in the Director’s office be made simple and short. At this point, 

DG Furrukh Rashid informed that he will consult his team in this connection to simplify the process of approval and also fix a time frame for approval of projects. 

Mohammad Hassan Bakshi suggested mandatory membership of ABAD for all builders engaged in construction activities in cantonment areas. Rizwan Adhia proposed one window operation for quick approval of projects of members of ABAD. 

At the end of the meeting, DG Furrukh Rashid said that the office of Director Military Lands & Cantonments was examining the process and policies for delay in the resolution of different issues and these will be resolved soon.