![parliament lodges 100 family suites to be built for lawmakers parliament lodges 100 family suites to be built for lawmakers](https://i1.tribune.com.pk/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/islamabad-national-assembly-interior-0031211111112111.jpg)
A joint committee of both houses of the Parliament approved the construction of 100 additional family suites for parliamentarians, along with 500 servant quarters, on Tuesday.
A joint meeting of two parliamentary standing committees, the Senate house committee and the house and library committee of the National Assembly, met to discuss the controversial project.
The meeting was jointly chaired by deputy speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi and deputy chairman Senate Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali.
The issue was referred to the joint committee by the prime minister after the opposition raised concern over the project.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) representatives in the committee opposed the project while others supported it. The deputy chairman Senate said there is a dearth of MPs’ residences in the parliament lodges and therefore, the project is vital.
Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Imtiaz Inayat Elahi said the estimated cost of the project was Rs2.7 billion and construction will take place in 3 phases. He added that Rs60 million had already been allocated, while Rs410 million per annum have been budgeted for the project which will be completed in three years.
A monitoring committee, comprising Engr. Amir Muqam, Engr. Shaukatullah, Asiya Nasir, Senator Farhat Abbas and Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, has been constituted to monitor progress of the project.
At present, the Parliament lodges directorate has nine blocks, of which seven are being used by parliamentarians while the remaining two by the administration. The lodges comprise 358 family suites, against a total of 442 parliamentarians.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2011.
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