Islamabad: CDA to develop 7 new sectors by 2011: Senate told

[Naveed Yaseen]

* Land acquisition for C-13, D-13, E-13, F-13, C-14, C-15 and C-16 sectors likely to complete by end of current year
* Every owner of four kanals land will get 500 square yards plot

By Irfan Ghauri

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) plans to develop seven new sectors by 2011, the Senate was informed during the question hour on Thursday.

According to the written information placed before the House, land acquisition for these sectors – C-13, D-13, E-13, F-13, C-14, C-15 and C-16 – was likely to be completed by end of current year.

The award of land for these new sectors has been announced. These sectors are being acquired on land-sharing basis. Every owner of four kanals land will be allotted a plot of 500 square yards.

Ishaq Dar of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) took a strong exception to the wrong information provided to the house about award of contracts for electric work in parliament house, saying it is a breach of the house’s privilege.

He said the names and other details of those awarded contract for electric work between 1997 and 2003 had been sought but the details provided in the annexure covered only four contracts awarded to three companies before 1997.

The question about Parliament Lodges created uproar in the House, with many members complaining about host of problems confronting them in the lodges ranging from poor quality of food to unhygienic conditions and from lack of security to illegal occupations.

Haji Adeel of Awami National Party said ‘qabza group’ was not confined to Karachi but was present in Parliament Lodges as well. He said some ministers were among those illegally occupying place with the lodges on rooftop.

He said he could not get a room for about one year in Parliament Lodges despite being entitled to the facility as a lawmaker, but non-entitled people occupied rooms.

Khatomal Jeewan complained of unhygienic conditions in the lodges, saying mice and cockroaches have made lives difficult for the residents.

A woman senator said presence of the MPs’ personal security guards in front of elevators in large numbers was embarrassing for women.

She said many people parked cars in porch and got them washed there giving the place a dirty look.

Minister for Ports and Shipping Nabeel Gabol said lawmakers should focus on the problems of internally displaced persons (IDPs) instead of discussing their ones. He even suggested them to vacate Parliament Lodges’ rooms for the IDPs.

Some members objected to his remarks, saying they’re discussing the issue during the Question Hour and it’s not in any manner at the cost of discussion on the issue of IDPs.

Senate Chairman Farooq Naek ordered formation of a committee to examine quality of food in parliament lodges besides addressing problems facing MPs.

He directed the committee working under the Senate’s deputy chairman to take steps for eviction of illegal occupants from Parliament Lodges.

Answering a question, Mehreen Anwar Raja said the contract for construction of Zero Point Interchange had been awarded to Maqbool Associates Limited (MAL). She said the MAL had not built Karachi’s Sher Shah Bridge, which collapsed in 2007.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...009_pg11_2