PHOTO: EXPRESS
The apex civic body of the federal capital was criticised by senators on Tuesday for its sluggish performance in the Parliament Lodges due to which the body saw its budget slashed.
This was disclosed as the Senate’s House Committee met at the Conference Hall at the Parliament Lodges on Tuesday. The committee was chaired by Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandivwala.
At the outset of the panel’s meeting, the committee reviewed the progress made over the committee’s recommendations from November 1.
Mandviwala noted that this was the ninth meeting of the committee but the amount of work done so far was nowhere near to what should have been accomplished thus far.
He then took aim at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) noting that the committee was not satisfied with the civic body’s performance.
The committee’s chairman pointed out that the finance ministry had provided CDA Rs93 million less this year because the civic body had failed to utilise the money issued for the Parliament Lodges in time and the funds lapsed.
Stressing that the CDA must improve its performance, Mandviwala was apprehensive that the civic body may face further budget cuts if it does not correct its current state of lethargy.
Sub-committee report
During the meeting, Senator Kulsoom Parveen — who was heading a sub-committee of the panel — submitted her report. As she did so, she said that Senator Azam Swati had been briefed about its contents and that he had expressed his satisfaction on the report.
Senator Parveen stated that the sub-committee had directed that tender forms for shops in the Parliament Lodges should be given to everyone who wants it. Moreover, delays in issuing tenders will not be tolerated. In this regard, she added that the terms of reference (ToRs) regarding giving shops out on lease have been devised and were shared with the sub-committee.
Moreover, she said that the sub-committee recommends that CDA employees deployed at the lodges should be transferred so that no one can form their hegemony.
The committee was told that tenders for the shops will be advertised within three days. For the provision of an ambulance at the lodges, the house committee was told that a summary has been prepared by the health department — since the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) had been dissolved — and sent to finance ministry for approval.
At this Mandviwala said that the summary should be shared with House Committee as well so that the matter can be taken up with the finance ministry. TORs for the cafeteria at the lodges have also been devised.
Security issues
The committee was further told that an additional 19 places have been earmarked across the lodges where security cameras need to be installed. The project will cost Rs4 million and tenders for it will be issued soon.
The committee was briefed by the Civil Defense director general about the fire audit of the lodges, which the committee had directed in its last meeting. Mandviwala noted that fire drills do not only entail checking the equipment installed, rather it also includes teaching people how to use the firefighting equipment.
The committee subsequently directed to conduct the fire drill again with residents taught how to use the equipment.
Contractor issues
Mandviwala also inquired about the result of the committee formed to resolve the dispute between the CDA and Habib and Rafique Construction Company — the builders contracted to build an additional block at the lodges.
The committee included representatives from the ministries of interior, parliamentary affairs, the CDA chairman and two senators including Yousuf Badiyani and Sardar Shafique Tareen.
The committee was told that since no one had been nominated as the convener committee, the committee never met and the issue remains pending.
Annoyed, Mandviwala nominated the CDA chairman as the convener of the committee and also directed to replace Badiyani with Senator Parveen in the committee.
Senator Parveen noted that the contract for building a new block at the lodges had been given in 2012. Now 2018 was coming to a close but the project has yet to be completed. She added that the failure to complete projects in time causes the exchequer losses worth billions.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) told the committee that they have set up a facilitation desk at the lodges.
The committee was further told that the PC-II for the renovation and refurbishment of existing block of Parliament Lodges would be approved soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2018.
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