Land allocation to IB awaits PM’s consent
CDA board had approved the bureau’s request on October 10
Petroleum minister Khaqan Abbasi
ISLAMABAD/PRIME MINISTER:
The allotment of four-acre land near the Prime Minister House in the federal capital to the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to cater to its “pressing official accommodation requirements” is awaiting the PM’s consent.
The country’s premier civilian intelligence agency had contended that its existing office complex at K-Block of the Pak Secretariat was insufficient to house its 9,000 employees. The new land, measuring 32 kanals, is situated between the M-Block of the Pak Secretariat and the PM House.
In May 2016, IB Director General Aftab Sultan sent a summary to then prime minister Nawaz Sharif for the allotment of the land and the PM’s Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad sought a response from the capital’s civic agency over the matter. The IB chief said the bureau had occupied the premises at K-Block decades ago.
“The accommodation was enough to house the then manpower, approximately 1,000. Over the period of time, the IB Headquarters is overcrowded [as current strength is above 9,000 employees], which is badly affecting the efficiency of the bureau,” the document said.
It added that a plot measuring 32 kanals on the southern side of the K-Block of the secretariat was vacant and owned by the government.
“In view of the pressing official accommodation requirements, the said plot may be allotted to the IB for its utilisation for construction of offices,” the IB chief asked the PM.
In March, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) asked the IB to furnish the details, like availability of funds and building plan of the proposed office complex. The civic agency was informed that funds to construct offices and PC-1 of the building would be submitted “as soon as the requisite area is allotted to the IB”.
Pursuing the case, IB Administration Director Imran Khan Jadoon wrote in August that “the expansion of operational and technical paraphernalia, together with VVIP security engagements, also requires creation of new offices with specific specialised civil structures to support/ accommodate exclusive operational facility”.
According to the by-laws, the IB would be allowed to construct a five-storey building with a basement and ground floor on the plot.
“After due deliberations, the request for allotment of plot to the Intelligence Bureau measuring 32 kanals has been approved subject to laid-down procedures/regulations and other codal formalities, including the approval from the prime minister of Pakistan,” reads a decision dated October 10 of the board of the civic agency.
In his short comment, CDA spokesperson Mazhar Hussain confirmed that the board had approved the summary subject to approval from the prime minister.
The allotment of four-acre land near the Prime Minister House in the federal capital to the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to cater to its “pressing official accommodation requirements” is awaiting the PM’s consent.
The country’s premier civilian intelligence agency had contended that its existing office complex at K-Block of the Pak Secretariat was insufficient to house its 9,000 employees. The new land, measuring 32 kanals, is situated between the M-Block of the Pak Secretariat and the PM House.
In May 2016, IB Director General Aftab Sultan sent a summary to then prime minister Nawaz Sharif for the allotment of the land and the PM’s Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad sought a response from the capital’s civic agency over the matter. The IB chief said the bureau had occupied the premises at K-Block decades ago.
“The accommodation was enough to house the then manpower, approximately 1,000. Over the period of time, the IB Headquarters is overcrowded [as current strength is above 9,000 employees], which is badly affecting the efficiency of the bureau,” the document said.
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It added that a plot measuring 32 kanals on the southern side of the K-Block of the secretariat was vacant and owned by the government.
“In view of the pressing official accommodation requirements, the said plot may be allotted to the IB for its utilisation for construction of offices,” the IB chief asked the PM.
In March, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) asked the IB to furnish the details, like availability of funds and building plan of the proposed office complex. The civic agency was informed that funds to construct offices and PC-1 of the building would be submitted “as soon as the requisite area is allotted to the IB”.
Pursuing the case, IB Administration Director Imran Khan Jadoon wrote in August that “the expansion of operational and technical paraphernalia, together with VVIP security engagements, also requires creation of new offices with specific specialised civil structures to support/ accommodate exclusive operational facility”.
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According to the by-laws, the IB would be allowed to construct a five-storey building with a basement and ground floor on the plot.
“After due deliberations, the request for allotment of plot to the Intelligence Bureau measuring 32 kanals has been approved subject to laid-down procedures/regulations and other codal formalities, including the approval from the prime minister of Pakistan,” reads a decision dated October 10 of the board of the civic agency.
In his short comment, CDA spokesperson Mazhar Hussain confirmed that the board had approved the summary subject to approval from the prime minister.