Details of CDA tenders for Parliament Lodges sought

Senate sub-panel reviews security arrangement at lodges, deliberates on camera monitoring

ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of a Senate panel on Wednesday sought details of all tenders issued by the civic body regarding construction work at the Parliament Lodges after doubts were raised regarding the quality of material used.

This was brought up during a meeting of a sub-committee of the Senate House Committee which met at the Parliament House on Wednesday under Senator Mir Yousaf Badini.

Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) officials said that they had not conducted any big project for the past ten years. Asked about the details of the Parliament Lodges projects, officials of the authority said that thus far, they had spent Rs108 million out of the Rs130 million allocated.

The committee’s chairman said that the parliamentary sub-panel should be informed about the details of all tenders issued by the CDA, adding that there had been a host of complaints regarding the use of sub-standard materials.

The committee was told that the preference of members is considered when various items or materials are selected.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Kulsoom Perveen complained that the parks outside and inside the lodges have not been taken care of.

To this, CDA officials present in the meeting replied that the parks fall under the purview of the Islamabad Municipal Corporation (IMC).

She added that the relevant officials should be specially asked regarding reconditioning works in lodges.

“The government talks of a Billion Tree Tsunami but there is not even a single tree in front of the Parliament Lodges,” the committee’s chairman Badini remarked.

Senators in the committee emphasized to improve the quality of paint used for the lodges, suggesting that good quality paint should be used which does not require to be painted over often.

Regarding the installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) security cameras installed at the lodges or which need to be installed, the committee was told that if the recording set up of cameras is moved to the basement, it will hamper the quality of video and images recorded because the system will be unable to catch full signals below ground.

The committee was further told that CDA almost always has an inadequate budget, owing to which it has become difficult to bear expenses by the end of the year. However, officials said that from this year on, a separate budget will be reserved for the firefighting system at the lodges.

The committee also summoned details of security arrangements at the lodges for the Eidul Fitr holidays at the next meeting. Committee members stated that security should be tightened at the lodges because most lawmakers will return to their native areas to celebrate the annual festival. In this regard, a letter should be sent to the Interior Ministry.

The committee also took notice of the poor condition of the recently-built servant quarters and directed that new, habitable quarters should be made.

The committee also summoned details of the contractors responsible.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2019.