The shabby interior of Parliament Lodges. PHOTO: EXPRESS
Stained floors, broken windows, walls and ceilings are what Parliament Lodges had to offer for its residents.
The condition of the residential complex exclusively built for parliamentarians, just opposite Parliament House on Constitution Avenue, is getting worse with each passing day owing to poor maintenance and total disregard of its residents.
The lodges were built by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in 1998 to provide accommodation to lawmakers. Parliamentarians, some of whom have been living in the lodges for many years, complained that no repair or maintenance work had been carried out by the CDA, despite drawing their attention to the appalling condition it was in.
The lawmakers said they had taken up the issue with National Assembly (NA) speakers in the past, but in vain, as the CDA seemed to be least interested in carrying out the requisite maintenance work on the posh residential suites.
An official requesting anonymity said 359 lodges had been allotted to members of parliament and the majority of them were in bad shape. “The lodges need to be renovated as most furniture and windows are broken and seepage is pervasive,” he added.
A senior CDA official said in April, the NA Standing Committee on House and Library also expressed its annoyance over poor maintenance of the lodges.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, who resides in the lodges, complained that the residents were facing multiple problems in the residential complex. He said the lodges were in pathetic condition and seepage was the biggest issue. “Water scarcity is another issue we are facing in the lodges,” he stated, urging the NA deputy speaker to take up the issue with the CDA which was responsible for its maintenance.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement MNA Abdul Rashid Godil complained that the lodges weredilapidated. He claimed that unauthorised people were also residing in the lodges and they were primarily responsible for their condition. “Since 2013, I have been raising the issue with the NA deputy speaker, but all in vain,” he added.
CDA Engineering Member Shahid Sohail, when contacted, claimed that the authority was trying its best to carry out renovation and maintenance work on the building from time to time. Nearly Rs215 million has been allocated in the current budget for the lodges’ maintenance.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2014.
COMMENTS (5)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Sad how the lawmakers are more concerned about the quality of their lifestyles rather than the people they rule over. To those who complain about these lodges how about you take a trip through Pakistan and see how badly most of this country is living. HYPOCRITES!
Where have all the allocations go ? let them submit the amount allocated & spent on these lodges since it was constructed...how much money allocated last year & how much spent ? the picture reveals the most poorest quality of workmanship...no wonder this means these buildings have become " golden goose, laying golden eggs "...year round.
Repair and maintenance should be linked to the quality and quantity of legislaton the legislators are doing. Based on their record since 2013 elections, major renovation is not justified (as no major law making has been done)
Pakistan...Pakistan...Pakistan! Sigh! Everything in a state of disrepair, shoddy, and tardy. There are so many examples that hard-disk space will run out. The solution is to catch the CDA top men, make them wear dungarees, T-shirts, handle picks and shovels, and start plastering the mortar. That's all. Salams
Pakistan...Pakistan...Pakistan! Sigh! Everything in a state of disrepair, shoddy, and tardy. There are so many examples that hard-disk space will run out. The solution is to catch the CDA top men, make them wear dungarees, T-shirts, handle picks and shovels, and start plastering the mort Salams