In parliament: Multi-storey buildings being built without NOCs

NA told that new casualty ward of PIMS serves over 500 people a day

ISLAMABAD: Several multi-storied buildings were being constructed in the capital without obtaining no-objection certificates.

Responding to questions in the National Assembly on Thursday, Parliamentary Secretary for CADD Maiza Hameed conceded that construction was taking place in Banni Gala without obtaining NOC from the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

She further noted that the area falls within the Margalla Hills National Park, where there were restrictions on construction.

To another question, Hameed said that work on the service road near the Peshawar Mor weekly bazaar would be carried out after allocation of funds.

The upgraded casualty wing at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) was providing emergency health care to over 500 patients every day.

This was disclosed by Minister for Capital Administration Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry in the National Assembly on Thursday. During a question hour in the lower house, the minister said that the new emergency ward had been established at a cost of Rs15 million. Moreover, the ward had been equipped with X-Ray, ultrasound, ECG and other essential medical equipment.

The minister, however, noted that approval for construction of Medical Tower at PIMS had yet to be granted.

Head for drug court

Meanwhile, in the upper house of the Parliament, Minister for Environment Zahid Hamid said that the drug court in Islamabad would soon get a new chairman. In a written reply, the minister said that although the post of chairman was vacant, two members were working in the court.

The members include Inamul Haq and Azhar Hussain.

Bhara Kahu housing

Another issue that echoed in the Senate on Thursday was the Bhara Kahu housing scheme.

Minister for Housing and Works Akram Khan Durrani informed the Senate on Thursday that Provisional Offer Letters (POL) had been issued to employees of constitutional bodies in the Bhara Kahu housing scheme.

Replying to a question, the minister said that only consent letters had been issued in the housing scheme in Sectors F-14 and F-15 to eligible members of constitutional bodies.

Durrani said that Rs6.84 billion had been deposited as down payment for Bhara Kahu Housing Scheme, Green Enclave-II by 17,190 allottees by January 31, 2017.

Nullah Leh still blocked

Meanwhile, during a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Government Assurances expressed its displeasure at the absence of Rawalpindi’s commissioner and the continued blockages in Nullah Leh despite an expensive clearing exercise.

Meeting with Senator Durrani in the chair, the committee noted that as much as Rs1.8 billion had been spent to demolish thousands of illegally constructed houses along the banks of Nullah Leh and clearing it.

Durrani said that a project to clear the massive natural drain had started in 2007.But the watercourse was still choked with filth and garbage, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2017.