ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) finally issued the much-delayed allotment letter of 225 kanals to Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) in lieu of the latter`s land that fell in the Bhara Kahu bypass project on Monday.

The QAU has been pleading for the last one year or so for the allotment letter.

Meanwhile, for resolving other pending commitments which the CDA had agreed in a Joint Working Group (JAC) meeting, an important meeting would be held on Tuesday, which would be attended by the CDA, QAU and officials from the education ministry.

The JAC was formed by the government last year following differences between the QAU and CDA over alignment of the bypass road.

`The authority is pleased to allot/land swap of 225 kanals in lieu of Bhara Kahu bypass. The subject area falls in the eastern side ofthe QAU boundary limits as per part plan issued... dated 11-082022. The subject piece of land will be developed through the authority`s indigenous resources so that QAU can utilise it as and when deemed necessary. Also, it is again reiterated that quantum of land is in contiguity QAU boundary limits,` read the CDA`s letter issued on Monday.

QAU Registrar Dr Raja Qaisar Ahmed confirmed to Dawn that the allotment letter had been issued.

`We appreciate CDA Chairman Anwarul Haq for taking special interest in issuing the much-delayed allotment letter. We are hopeful that the CDA chairman would continue to extend his support to resolve other outstanding commitments made by the civic body during the Joint Working Group meeting,` the QAU registrar said.

He said three other main commitments were pending, among them the widening of Shahdara Road, access to QAU through 4th Avenue and demarcation and removal of illegal settlement from the univer-sity land.

Dr Ahmed said access road to the university was a major issue as after the closure of 3rd Avenue, the main access to the QAU was Shahdara Road, which was hardly 12 feet wide and unable to cater to the existing traffic load.

`Two persons lost their lives in an accident on this narrow road some months ago. We will ask the CDA in a meeting to be held on Tuesday to start work on widening the road immediately,` he said.

The bypass road was completed and opened to traffic on August 3, but issues between the QAU and CDA remain unresolved.

The university`s faculty and students protested and demanded change of alignment, but the government as well as the CDA remained adamant not to revise the plan and that the university would be provided alternative land. The civic body then issued the offer letter last year. However, the QAU management continued to plead for allotment letter, which was finally issued on Monday.