ISLAMABAD: As per their routine, the city managers have been ignoring an important subject of ‘sister cities’ and ‘twin towns’ since last three decades and they have been failed to launch an active correspondence on already signed agreements; whereas, the authority is also looking unwilling to work further on it in future.
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) signed ten agreements of sister cities and twin towns with foreign countries to enhance the cultural and trade ties time to time. The first agreement of this kind was signed by the civic body with Ankara, Turkey in 1982; whereas, Jakarta, Al-Qudus Al Sharif, Oman, Beijing, Hanoi, Nairobi, Bishkek, Seoul and Manama are included in the list of other sister cities of Islamabad.
Twin towns and sister cities are a form of a social agreement between towns and cities among different countries to promote cultural and commercial ties. The agreements are an important opportunity to foster friendship and understanding between different cultures.
An officer of the authority has briefed that the said agreements and related proceedings were initially under the domain of the Directorate of Public Relations, but later on the subject came under the control of Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA).
He further said; “other countries are using twin cities agreements prudently to adopt and introduce latest technologies in civic management; whereas, an active collaboration between cities is pivotal to enhance the bilateral linkages, but unfortunately, the management of CDA neglected this important subject and do nothing in last 30 years.”
Sources inside the DMA briefed the Daily Times, “the authority never takes these agreements seriously and we don’t have any communication with these countries since signing of the agreements”.
Another officer of the CDA said; “there are several hurdles in creating links with these cities like non-cooperation of foreign office, priorities of higher ups.” He complained while saying; “nobody is willing to work on this subject as if an officer put his efforts and create an opportunity then at the time of taking any benefit, the top management prefers to avail it by their own and never give a chance to any junior officer of having an international exposure.”
Chief Officer Metropolitan Cooperation Islamabad, Asad Kiani while responding on the issue has said; “unfortunately, absence of an elected head of the city caused several problems in past, but now the Mayor is fully committed to take up all neglected areas of such kind.”
He accepted the reality that the authority never takes these agreements seriously saying; “The Mayor of Islamabad Shaikh Ansar Aziz believes in active coordination with capitals of different countries to introduce new technologies in Islamabad; whereas, he is also going to attend a Mayor’s conference held in China next month.”
Malik Saleem, a spokesperson of the CDA has said; “the sister cities agreements are an act of peace and reconciliation and to encourage trade and tourism. We have done some efforts in this regards in past and the authority will also ensure an active correspondence in future.”
The Daily Times has learnt that besides the sweet statements of the officers, it is a fact that they have already loss much by ignoring sister cities because in recent times, town twinning has increasingly been used to form strategic international business links between member cities.
The higher management of the CDA should take the mater seriously and depute an active and vigilant officer on the job to re-launch an active correspondence with sister cities of Islamabad.
Bilateral exchanges of officers, staff, traders and people from other fields should be initiated to gain maximum benefit of the twining of Islamabad with major cities of the world.