MPs slam 'mismanagement' of lodges

During the National Assembly's Question Hour on Wednesday, members from various political parties expressed strong concerns over ongoing issues related to the Parliament Lodges and called for urgent corrective measures.

In response to a question from Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam, Parliamentary Secretary Mukhtar Ahmad Malik clarified that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) does not handle the allocation of budget or allotment of lodges. He explained that the CDA's role is limited to utilising the budget as directed by the Parliament's House and Library Committee.

Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah admitted that CDA's performance in managing the lodges has been inadequate, citing the suspension of a director and deputy director due to mismanagement. He revealed that a meeting in the Planning Division is ongoing, and tenders will be issued once approval is granted. Currently, 51 MNAs are without official accommodation.

PPP leader Syed Naveed Qamar proposed outsourcing the management of lodges to private firms, arguing that quality could improve under such arrangements while remaining within the current budget. This matter is under discussion in the Standing Committee on Finance.

MNA Noor Alam Khan raised concerns about the misuse of resources, noting that while MNAs pay rent and utility bills on time, employees at the lodges are receiving unnecessary perks. He also criticised the underutilisation of nearly 200 CDA staff, stating that only a few workers are available when needed. Furthermore, he highlighted that the gym at the Parliament Lodges is often used by non-members rather than elected officials.

MNA Syed Waseem suggested that room allotments should be merit-based and proposed reallocating lodges from ministers who have moved to the Ministers' Colony to accommodate MNAs in need.

Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry emphasized the seriousness of the issue, pointing out that complaints about the lodges are frequent. He called for the completion of a construction project that has been pending since 2008 to address the space shortage. He also stressed that management inefficiencies, such as inadequate janitorial services and maintenance issues, remain persistent. He urged that the CDA's performance can only improve with proper funding.