Consultant for senators’ suite to be appointed soon

IMC’s chief municipal officer, CDA’s director called for next meeting of Senate panel

ISLAMABAD:

The process for appointing a consultant for construction family suites in the Parliament Lodges is expected to be completed early next month.

This was disclosed during a meeting of the Senate House Committee which met at the Parliament House on Tuesday with Deputy Senate Chairman Saleem Mandviwalla in the chair.

During the meeting, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) said that the process of appointing the consultant for building 104 family suites for Senators in the lodges will be completed by August 5.

The panel directed the authority to update it on the matter.

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Moreover, the committee directed the CDA to complete all remaining formalities during this time so that once the consultant is finalised, work can be expedited.

CDA was further asked to share details of the project and the work required with the federal Planning Commission so that it can start the process of releasing the necessary funds.

It was also directed that any extensions required for any phase of the project may also be sought from the commission.

The issue of implementing past recommendations of the committee was also discussed.

The panel noted that the Islamabad MetrIslopolitan Corporation (IMC) had neither complied with its directives nor had it responded to the questions posed by the committee whether the corporation was willing to work on maintaining the Parliament Lodges or not.

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At this, the committee decided to call one last meeting on the matter, inviting the IMC Chief Municipal Officer and CDA’s Lodges director so that a solution can be found to the poor maintenance and municipal services at the lodges.

Moreover, that meeting discussed issues relating to a budget for the lodges, the poor condition of some suites, and the upgrade plan for 83 suites at the lodges which Senators use.

The meeting was attended by Senators Kalsoom Parveen, Yousaf Badini, Sardar Shafiq Tareen, Fida Muhammad Kauda Babar among others.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2020.