PM Imran elaborates vision for 'future cities'

ISLAMABAD: Elaborating his vision for the development of cities in future in light of threats Pakistan has been facing owing to climate change, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Saturday that he wants buildings to be constructed vertically with more green spaces.

“My vision for our future cities: to allow buildings to rise vertically & allow for more green spaces as Pak is one of the the most environmentally-threatened countries,” he said in a twitter statement.

“Avoiding large sprawling built-up areas will also allow easier provision of amenities to our urban dwellers.”

He said, “Our arable land is being eaten up by housing societies and has grave consequences for our food security in the future. Also, we are in the process of making laws to allow buildings, built to international safety standards, to go as high as in other cities across the world.”

Our arable land is being eaten up by housing societies and has grave consequences for our food security in the future. Also, we are in the process of making laws to allow buildings, built to international safety standards, to go as high as in other cities across the world. https://t.co/bvKcFpmF1U

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) March 2, 2019

Earlier, on Feb 12, the prime minister approved rules to facilitate the construction of highrise buildings in Islamabad. He directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to formulate rules and regulations to change the existing buildings into highrises.

The decision came during a meeting presided over by the premier at the PM House.

Special Assistant to PM on CDA Affairs Ali Nawaz Awan, Special Assistant to PM on Political Affairs Naeemul Haq, CDA Chairman Amir Ahmed Ali were in attendance for the meeting.