Thirteen years and counting: New provincial legislature building far from the finish line

After multiple revisions, the project cost has crossed Rs3 billion mark

LAHORE: Thirteen years and innumerable missed deadlines later, the new provincial legislature building is still far from the finish line. But after witnessing inertia for more than a decade, the project appears to be back on track, and if all goes well, it might see the light of day in the next six months.

Initiated in 2006, the new legislative wing had to be completed five years later in 2011. However, with the change of regime in Punjab, the project was put on the back burner. Commissioned by the former chief minister and current speaker of the provincial assembly, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, the project was pushed down the priority list during Shehbaz Sharif’s term as the provincial administrator. Elahi, who is Sharif’s political nemesis, claims the project faced deliberate delays during the former chief minister’s term in office.

“His (Shehbaz Sharif’s) stubbornness has cost the provincial kitty more than Rs 1.5billion,” said Speaker Elahi, who blames his opponent squarely for the delays.

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Marred by neglect, the project cost has crossed the Rs 3billion mark. Officials familiar with the details said the cost of the project has been revised several times since 2006. The first revision came twelve months after it was initiated, pushing the project cost to over Rs.1billion. In 2011, the project was reviewed again and then again in 2018, taking the final cost to Rs.3.7 billion.

The current provincial administration blames the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) government for delaying the project. “During Shehbaz Sharif’s ten years, the project faced delays, which has cost the taxpayers more than one billion,” said Elahi, who has been at odds with the Sharifs.

For the speaker, the new legislative wing is a personal project that he wants to see completed. In what appears to be a final ultimatum, the speaker hopes the project will see the light of the day by June next year.

A replica of the existing building, the new legislative wing is expected to be furnished with a long list of state-of-the-art gadgetry that includes new digital display panels for lawmakers in the house and other audio equipment that will facilitate them during the parliamentary sessions.

Fine marble and granite has already been imported from India and China for the flooring in the new building. The long list of superior quality building material includes the use of Burmese teak wood. The new building has a seating capacity for 600 guests, 300 media personnel, and special chambers for 40 cabinet ministers.

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That’s not all. The speaker and deputy speaker’s offices have also received an upgrade. The new legislative wing will have four elevators and a brand-new air conditioning unit. The new facility also has a dedicated mosque. For the interior decoration, the government has sought the services of experts from the National College of Arts.

Designed by Aruna Zara Ashraf, the new building seems to be at the centre of a political conflict between two parties.

In their defence, the PML-N said they prioritised the needs of the people of the province over the new building. “The project was delayed because the people of Punjab were more important than a new building. We spent on projects that have helped the people,” said Rana Sanaullah, a PML-N leader.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2019.