Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) lacks an ‘effective mechanism’ to rename roads in the capital city.

Most of the roads in the developed sectors have already been named after famous personalities of the past. However, the general public, especially the younger generation, is completely unaware about their role in renaming of roads. The city management takes such decisions on its own.

The road signboards placed by the CDA contain incomplete information.

As for instance, a road in F-7 named after the great Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai has on its signboard “Bhitai Road”. How can an outsider or even locals know who Shah Abdul Bhitai is and what is his role and services to Sufism?

It is not the only such example. Most of the people are ignorant about the history behind road names such as Ispahani Road, Sachal Road, Sohani Road, Faqir Aipee Road, Hassan Affandi Road and Ismail Zabih Road.

When Daily Times asked members of the general public about the names of different roads during a survey, most of them did not know anything about why these roads had been named.

A renowned professor of the history, Dr Mujeeb Ahmed, while talking to Daily Times said: “It is quite unfortunate that our institutions are not paying attention to this important need. A little effort from their side can become a vital source of disseminating correct information about these great people.”

“CDA should place signboards having brief introduction of these people and pictures if possible. The purpose to name any road after an eminent personality is to pay homage to his services,” he said.

“Names of roads should be selected on merit instead of pick and chose basis. Currently, several roads have been named after relatively lesser known personalities,” Dr Mujeeb Ahmed said.

Initially, the Directorate of Master Plan CDA was responsible for recommending the names for roads. However, now the task rests with the CDA Directorate of Traffic Engineering.

The directorate prepares a summary recommending the names as per the specific guideline already laid down by the federal government and forwards it to the CDA Board for approval.

After an affirmative nod from CDA Board, the name goes for the final approval of federal government. However, this is considered just a formality.

As per the guidelines, no road can be named after a person while he is still alive. The roads can be named after the founders of Pakistan, persons who were in the forefront of freedom movement, national personalities with unblemished record of service to the nation, martyrs and artists of national fame.

However, if you are an influential bureaucrat, powerful politician or even a journalist, then you can recommend a name of your own choice. Such cases decided on the basis of personal liking in the CDA.

Talking to Daily Times, Director Public Relations Mazhar Hussain said: “We are already working on this. Soon the signboards containing brief introductions will be placed across the city.”

“We are gathering authentic information from relevant departments and once we get complete information, the process to place additional signboards will be started,” he said.