Islamabad, September 08, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Senate House Committee met on Thursday under the Chairmanship of Deputy Chairman, Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi here at the Parliament House. The committee directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to make it mandatory for issuance of residential cards for persons residing at the Parliament Lodges as workers of the members of the Parliament. Deputy Chairman Senate also directed to issue display cards for the CDA staff.
The committee also directed to issue separate cards to the members and their immediate families for gymnasium. The Deputy Chairman also directed the Senate Secretariat to circulate forms to the households of the Lodges to inquire on the details of number of workers attached with them (permanent or temporary) in order to dispatch security cards to the same particularly for the side rooms. Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, who put attendance as a special invitee in the meeting lamented that the security of the Parliament Lodges is very poor.
“Anyone can enter the premises of the Parliament Lodges without any check and balance” he added. It was directed by the committee that no one should be allowed in the premises without the confirmation from the household of the respective lodge. The DSP Parliament Lodges informed the committee that more policemen are required to be deputed at the Parliament Lodges, “on shift there is only one policeman and 1 FC personal”, he informed.
The Police officials also informed that a total of 21 ICT police and 23 Frontier Corps, FC personals are deputed for the Parliament Lodges and have lengthy shift hours, it was recommended that the shift hrs. May be reduced and boarding and lodging facilities also be provided to the policemen for an efficient security system of the premises.
The Chairman Committee, Deputy Chairman Senate directed to summon the Finance Secy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Development and the CDA in the subsequent meetings to ensure smooth completion of the additional block of the Parliament Lodges with joint meeting with the National Assembly.
The Member Engineering apprised the committee that block A is completed by 61 pc and Block B by 71 pc. An additional 1,450 ml, Rs. And 1400 ml Rs. budget allocation is required respectively. 300 ml Rs. are already allocated for the said project, he further informed. The member engineering ensured that the paper work is already completed and the tender can be immediately issued provided that at least 50 pc payment is completed. He said that tender cannot be floated without the available funds.
The Senate committee showed reservation on the delayed progress of the additional block, the chairman Committee ensured that the committee will take up monthly meetings to expiate the work on the additional block.
The CDA officials also put forward their stance on the outsourcing of the project for a speedy completion; however the Deputy Chairman maintained that the committee will extend its full support and co-operation and hold joint meeting with the allied departments for the completion of the project. The committee also decided to have an on –ground visit of the site to inspect the work progress.
Briefing was also taken on the progress made regarding report/maintenance in the Parliament Lodges along with details of work/demand forwarded by Senator. The CDA officials informed that the work done for repair and maintenance of building was worth Rs 169.030 ml.
The member finance also recommended that the salaries which are lapsed by 3 to 4 months should also be shifted to repair and maintenance funds since the parliament grant is deficit by approx. seventh to eight ml. Rs. He further apprised the committee that the previous government also rejected to release supplementary grant for repair and maintenance. The member finance CDA said that the liabilities on the CDA for the repair and maintenance are more than the funds granted and also suggested to have a separate head for the developmental projects.
Earlier in the meeting, the report of the sub-committee on the deficiencies and issues in the Parliament Lodges was also laid. The meeting was attended by Senators Shahadat Awan, Fawzia Arshad, Rubina Khalid, Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Muhammad Tahir Bizenjo, and Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen, Dr. Afnan ullah Khan, Falak Naaz, and Senator Haji Hidayat Ullah. Rana Shakeel Asghar Financial Advisor Member CDA, Sayed Munawar Shah Member Engineering CDA, officials from the Ministry of interior, DSP Parliament Lodges and officials of other attached departments were also in attendance.
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