CDA chief, mayor finally join hands to resolve citizens' woes.

ISLAMABAD -- The heads of the city's two civic agencies on Friday seemed to be showing flexibility after a Supreme Court hearing and continuous prodding by a Senate special standing committee to resolve their jurisdiction issues affecting the public life in the capital.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) have been at loggerhead over their powers and responsibilities at the cost of the over two million residents of Islamabad who are facing civic issues.

However, Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz and CDA Chairman Amer Ali Ahmed held a meeting at Convention Centre to discuss the issues on Friday. Sources said later both the city managers also held a one-on-one meeting at the same venue.

The sources said during the meeting it was decided that both the organisations would work jointly for cleanliness of nullahs and take steps to make all public toilets functional.

The Supreme Court on Thursday had raised questions over the dirty nullahs in the capital and some other issues such as industrial pollution.

Special committee at another meeting says most of Islamabad's issues emerged primarily due to hasty legislation

Meanwhile, a special committee on Islamabad formed by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to 'review and examine the jurisdictional issues between CDA and MCI and to suggest a course of action with a view to address the issues,' held another meeting on Friday.

Chaired by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, the committee deliberated upon the jurisdictional issues. Senator Dr Shehzad Waseem also attended the meeting.

The committee was of the view that most of the issues that had emerged were primarily due to hasty legislation which resulted not only in legal lacuna but also an administrative overlap and ambiguity.

It was observed that with requisite political will and sincerely taking up and following upon the issues, resolution of the crisis can be achieved early.

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