News The Urban The content of Urban Gallery may not necessarily reflect Punjab Governament’s official policy. 05 Volume: I September 2015 Dr. Ali Cheema Chairman, Board of Directors Dr. Nasir Javed CEO, The Urban Unit Editorial: Communications Team The Urban Unit in partnership with PAKSTRAN inaugurated the Pothohar Station, Metro Islamabad-Rawalpindi Project, with the objective of creating awareness on sustainable transport and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in Pakistan while illustrating the Pothohar station as a world-class, model station from a commercial perspective too on 24th June 2015. The Pothohar Station was officially declared as the ‘best station’ of Rawalpindi and Islamabad by both DCO Rawalpindi and the Commissioner. Urban Unit & PAKSTRAN Inauguration of Pothohar Station, Metro Bus ISB-RWP
Transcript
News The Urban
The content of Urban Gallery may not necessarily reflect Punjab Governament’s official policy.
05Volume: I
September2015
Dr. Ali CheemaChairman, Board of Directors
Dr. Nasir JavedCEO, The Urban Unit Editorial: Communications Team
The Urban Unit in partnership with PAKSTRAN inaugurated the Pothohar Station, Metro Islamabad-Rawalpindi Project, with the objective of creating awareness on sustainable transport and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in Pakistan while illustrating the Pothohar station as a world-class, model station from a commercial perspective too on 24th June 2015.
The Pothohar Station was officially declared as the ‘best station’ of Rawalpindi and Islamabad by both DCO Rawalpindi and the Commissioner.
Urban Unit & PAKSTRANInauguration of Pothohar Station, Metro Bus ISB-RWP
Vol: I Issue: 05 September 201502
Vol: I Issue: 05 September 201503
Urban Unit and LEAD Pakistan conducted a seminar on ‘Heat Health Management Plan’, to counter a way forward for tackling the prevailing heat-wave and its disastrous effects on Karachi and its citizens.
Participants discussed ways to meet the challenges of the current heat wave in Karachi and Sindh due to global warming and climate change that poses major survival concerns for Pakistan, in relation to the country’s water, food and energy security. Commissioner Karachi Mr. Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui commented, “There is a dire need for heat health management plan for Karachi city. We look forward to replicating the successful heat health management model of Ahmadabad city, in Karachi. We are thankful to the Urban Unit for arranging this consultative platform.”
Beat the HeatSeminar on Heat Health Management Plan for Karachi
The importance of quality vocational training cannot be stressed enough, and when imparted in a professional manner, can accrue a number of quantifiable economic and social benefits such as crime reduction, individual motivation, social cohesion, economic growth, income augmentation and career development among others.
The Urban Unit, in collaboration with the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) inaugurated a 3 month vocational and skill development training program at the Al Jazari Academy in Township, Lahore. The unique program is being offered at NO COST to enrollees and is open for registration for those aged 15 and above. The three vocational training courses being offered are for the roles of GIS Surveyor, Tube Wells and Pumps Operator and Solid Waste Management Field Inspector.
3 Month Vocational Training Launchedat Al Jazari Academy, Lahore
The Soon Valley Eco-tourism Development Project has already started make waves, where local communities have demonstrated a positive interest in many initiatives, such as training as tour guides and showing a willingness to sell local goods and food products at kiosks and shops at the tourist resort’s sites. This will serve as a much needed impetus to the region’s local economy. The project team has also initiated a public awareness campaign to create greater awareness of the need to preserve the ecology of Soon Valley, through the dissemination of brochures, informational material
and a creative advertising campaign. Expect more great things SOON!
The Soon Valley Eco-tourism Development Project has already started make waves, where local communities have demonstrated a positive interest in many initiatives, such as training as tour guides and showing a willingness to sell local goods and food products at kiosks and shops at the tourist resort’s sites. This will serve as a much needed impetus to the region’s local economy. The project team has also initiated a public awareness campaign to create greater awareness of the need to preserve the ecology of Soon Valley, through the dissemination of brochures, informational material
and a creative advertising campaign. Expect more great things SOON!
Vol: I Issue: 05 September 201504
In the pursuit of materialization of the vision of the Chief Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, the Government of Punjab, Pakistan has initiated the development of a new Urban-Industrial development on world class standards along the Lahore- Islamabad Motorway (M2) corridor near Lillah Interchange. This initiative will likely capitalize on the potential opportunities offered under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor’s long term goals that is expected to grow business and trade with China and the Central Asian Region (CARs) in addition to boost domestic commerce within and
between provinces based on the immense potential of urbanization and economic growth in Punjab.
The New City project started its consultative sessions with Jhelum Chambers of Commerce & Industries and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry. The representatives from JCCI, FPCCI, the Urban Unit, Housing & Urban Development, nominees from Punjab Board of Investment & Trade and members of local business community participated in the meetings with an aim to discuss various dimensions of the city with an economic perspective.It has also conducted sessions in Sargodha Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of
Commerce and Industry in Lahore.
The New City Project’sConsultative meetings across Punjab
Soon ValleyA tourist heaven in the making
Vol: I Issue: 05 September 201505
Is Housing a right, in the same way that food and water are the inalienable rights of every human being? If it is a right, then who is responsible for ensuring that this right is met? These questions and many more, were put forward by Architect Babar Khan Mumtaz in an informative seminar titled
Intra-gated Communities – An Exploration of Affordable Housing.
An Urban Planner/ Development Economist with over 40 years of diverse local and international experience, Ar. Babar Mumtaz spoke at length about the housing sector in Pakistan, particularly about housing demand, the availability of housing and affordable housing for the masses. The seminar was thoroughly engaging and provided an abundance of information relating to Pakistan’s
housing sector; useful for academia, policy makers, urban planners and the general public alike.
Housing occupies 30% of urban land
500,000 new households are added annually
Only 300,000 houses are produced each year
Draft National Housing Policy proposes subsidy of
Rs 3.5 billion
Over 85% of households own their house
Over 70% have flush toilets
93% of houses are made of permanent materials
A Standard House2 Rooms
Room size 9m2House size 50-75m2
Governments can only supply1/7 - 1/10th
of the Total housing
A SEMINAR ONINTRA-GATED COMMUNITIES
AN EXPLORATION OFAFFORDABLE HOUSING
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)Training for Development ProjectsA 3-day training course on was organized by The Urban Unit from 26th - 28th May, 2015 at its Training Centre in Shaheen Complex, Lahore to necessitate the use of Environmental Impact Assessment as a decision making tool in project planning, management as well as to impart practical knowledge & skills through case studies and field work. A field visit of Lahore’s Walled City was arranged for practical application of the development projects for participants from City District Governments, Water and Sanitation Agency, Development Authorities, Traffic Engineering & Transport Planning Agency, EIA consultants and academia.
Complaints & Grievances Redressal SystemUnder Punjab Cities Governance Improvement Project’s DLI 7 i.e. Accountability, an indigenous and automated Complaint Management System (CMS) has been developed for CDGs and WASA to bridge the communication gap between the municipal bodies and the citizens, and to provide citizens a platform through which they can have their grievances addressed in a timely and transparent manner.
GIS-based Inventory of AssetsA GIS-based inventory of Assets has been developed for effective decision making and to manage the key components of public infrastructure under the jurisdiction of CDGs and WASAs in five large districts of Punjab. The asset inventory subsequently envisions the development of Integrated Development and Asset Management Plans (IDAMP) which pivots around the concept of improved management of public infrastructure within a constrained budgetary environment.
Energy AuditEnergy Audit Project captures energy utilization and saving opportunities for five WASAs (Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan and Rawalpindi) through energy utilization assessment of existing assets. The facilities of WASAs that are included in the audit are operational service delivery components of water supplies, sewerage and waste water treatment plants.
Trainings onPunjab Procurement Rules 2014 The third round of trainings on Punjab Procurement Rules 2014 were organized in the five Project cities with a focus on preparation of annual procurement plans, budgeting and approval mechanism, prequalification and contractor’s enlistment, bid submission, bid opening, procedures of open competitive bidding, evaluation of bids, announcement of evaluation report, grievance redress mechanism and contract management.
Public SensitizationCampaign on Census of Healthcare EstablishmentsThe Urban Unit and Punjab Health Care Commission launched a public sensitization campaign on the jointly conducted health facilities’ Census being carried out in five divisions, Lahore, Multan, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Sahiwal. During the census, geo tagging and authentic data collection of each health facility has been undertaken through door to door visits of highly trained enumerators. This exercise will help in identifying quacks and protect the public against the hazards of fraudulent medical practitioners. The sensitization campaign aims at the improvement of public healthcare services and the establishments scanned for census include hospitals, maternity homes, homeopathy clinics, clinics, nursing homes, matabs, dental clinics, physiotherapy clinics, drug addiction centres, laboratories and acupuncture clinics.
The computerization of Property Tax System has finally been accomplished through the untiring collaborative efforts of the Department of Excise & Taxation Punjab Government and The Urban Unit. This was initiated as a pilot project in Sialkot and completed in 2012, and after approval from the Chief Minister of Punjab, the Urban Unit started the computerization of property tax system in five more districts of Punjab, namely Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala.
The Excise & Taxation and the Urban Unit carried out an extensive database collection survey of households to collect and compile fresh data after almost 13 years, along with the photographs of all property units. Their locations were marked on maps using a state of the art GIS, and all information gathered during the survey has been updated and maintained through a customized software planned, designed, developed and put to execution in-house by the Urban Unit without any external assistance. In order to facilitate tax payers, the system has been made online and is accessible at www.excise-punjab.gov.pk
Vol: I Issue: 05 September 201507
Tribute to the Dearly DepartedOur deepest condolences and respect to the below Urban Unit team memberswho recently experienced the tragedy of human loss in their families.
Syeda Sani-e-Zahra Naqvi, Sr. Urban Planner, on passing of her grandmotherAbdul Razzak, Sr. Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, on passing of his maternal uncleDr. Tahir Ali Akbar, Sr. GIS Specialist, on passing of his father and mother-in-lawMuhammad Tariq, Procurement Specialist, CPU Multan, on passing of his wife
We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved and keep them in our thoughts and prayers.
Punjab UrbanImmovable PropertyTax Goes Online
Upcoming EventAre you ready for the 3rd
Pakistan Urban Forum?4th to 7th December
The Urban Unit is proud to announce the third iteration of the Pakistan Urban Forum (PUF), which be heldfrom 4th to 7th December 2015 at the Alhamra Art Center in Lahore, Pakistan.
The theme for this year’s Forum is:
Reimagining Pakistan’s Cities for the 21st CenturyThe Pakistan Urban Forum serves as a platform for professionals, policy makers, practitioners and academics to highlight ideas and ongoing efforts to improve the state of urban Pakistan. We hope to foster discussions that will talk and address ways both to ameliorate the deteriorating urban fabric of our big cities as well as to enhance the
capacity of new centres, in order to retain or attract urban populations.
The Urban Unit has invited submissions that examine issues related to the theme Reimagining Pakistan’s Cities for the 21st Century. If you have a Paper or Poster which is policy based and solution oriented and critically examines
existing projects and/or proposes new strategies for tackling issues relating to urbanization,submit your abstract for #PUF2015 today!
