Grey structure of additional block ready

Senate panel seeks weekly report on Parliament Lodges

ISLAMABAD:

The grey structure of the additional block of the Parliament Lodges has been completed while finishing works are underway.

This was disclosed during a meeting of the Senate House Committee which met at the old blocks of the lodges on Wednesday with Senate Deputy Chairman Saleem Mandviwala in the chair.

During the meeting, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Aamer Ali Ahmed said that the authority has acquired various departments from the elected Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) and that it was now responsible for maintenance of the lodges.

The committee asked about the release of half of the maintenance funds to the CDA. At this, the authority said that a letter was sent to the finance ministry but the funds have yet to be released.

However, officials of the finance ministry claimed that they only received a letter for the release of the routine budget from the authority and not for the release of funds for the second and third quarters.

At this, the Senate deputy chairman reprimanded the civic authority and told them to improve their performance. CDA Chairman Ahmed assured the committee that they will write to the division today (Thursday).

Consultants who are working on the additional blocks of the lodges told the panel that a project concept-I (PC-I) for three new blocks, each with a mosque and servant quarters, will be ready in December, while tenders can be issued in February. The project will cost Rs2.5 billion.

Noting that the grey structure of the blocks is ready, they intend to use aluminium and U-PVC for finishing instead of wood. Further, instead of using individual split air conditioners, in the new block, they will use Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) systems.

The committee chairman pointed out that problems frequently arise in this system, hence which ver company is tasked with installing it should also be asked to maintain it for the next decade.

Mandviwala directed the firm to submit a weekly progress report about works on the additional blocks.

On reviewing the issue of malfunctioning elevators of the lodges, Mandviwala said that the Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar had assured them of releasing Rs180 million for the project.

The CDA chief said that a new PC-I will have to be made and referred to the CDA-DWP for approval and subsequent inclusion in the next public sector development programme.

On maintenance work of senators' suites, it was decided that the committee will review the matter in detail at the next meeting. Reviewed the issue of allowing a telecom company to erect their towers on the Parliament Lodges, referred by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, the committee chairman said that they have received no complaints from the public or parliamentarians regarding the drop in service quality. However, he added that a single company cannot be permitted per the rules.

The matter will be taken up with the IMC Chief and it would be discussed in the next meeting, Mandviwala said and added the working would be done as per Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.

Moreover, Senator Maulvi Faiz Mohammad complained that arrears were included in his gas monthly bill. At this, the panel chairman recalled that they instructed to exclude arrears when a suite was allotted.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2020.