ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has come under scrutiny over the continued delay in handing over land to the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), despite receiving approximately Rs. 4 billion from the institution over several years.
Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal has directed the CDA to resolve the matter immediately, instructing the authority to either provide PIDE with the required land or return the amount it received.
According to the information reviewed by the government, PIDE deposited the payment with the CDA between 2017 and 2020 but has yet to receive the allocated land. The institution has reportedly been following up on the matter since 2022.
The minister expressed concern over the prolonged delay, noting that PIDE requires the land for its institutional needs. He called for a clear response from the CDA and stressed that the issue should not remain unresolved any longer.
During the meeting, the minister also reviewed progress on several development projects. Authorities were directed to maintain construction standards and address implementation delays affecting the Kachhi Canal Phase-II and the 35-kilometre Loralai-Zhob Road project.
The Allama Iqbal Memorial and Iqbal Library project was also discussed, with instructions to develop the facility according to international standards and accelerate the process for its execution.
The minister directed relevant departments to speed up work on development schemes and ensure timely implementation of directives issued by the federal government.
