Over Rs 3 billion family suites to be built for MPs

[Naveed Yaseen]

Over Rs3 billion family suites to be built for MPs

Thursday, September 17, 2009
Mehtab Haider

Islamabad

The PPP-led government will construct additional 104 family suites for Members of the Parliament (MPs) that also include one suite each for the Senate chairman, the National Assembly speaker and guestrooms for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs with an estimated cost of Rs3.042 billion from taxpayers’ money, official documents available with ‘The News’ reveal.

The multibillion-rupee project aims at providing additional 104 family suites (100 suites for MPs and 4 for the Senate chairman, the National Assembly speaker and guest rooms for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs) on the southwest side of the existing Parliament Lodges.

A top official of the Planning Commission confirmed to ‘The News’ that the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) was all set to consider approval of this project in Thursday’s meeting.

According to the circulated working paper going to be considered for approval in the Central Development Working Party meeting scheduled to be held with Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sardar Aseff Ahmad Ali today (Thursday), this project will be completed in about 36 months and there is no allocation for it in the current fiscal year’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). The sponsoring agency of the project is Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs whereas its executing agency is Capital Development Authority (CDA).

The Planning Commission has raised certain objections with a recommendation to rationalise the cost of the project.

During the first year of the project, the government will provide 40.8 percent financing, 29.7 percent in second year and 29.5 percent in third year.

The scope of work of the project envisages total plot area of 6.10 acres and 104 suites having covered area of 300,020 square feet (each suite consisting of 2 bedrooms with drawing and dining, lounge, kitchen, bath, store and servant room). The basement (parking for 440 vehicles, services & maintenance offices) will be built on a covered area of 173,000 square feet. The fire safety measures will also be provided as well as community facilities such as gymnasium (ladies and gents with changing rooms and facilities), a mosque for 1,000 persons, meeting room for 200 persons, shops, mess for 500 members, workshop, stores and lobbies having a covered area of 32,900 square feet.

The government will also construct 500 servant quarters with total covered area of 144,000 square feet (total five blocks, each block having capacity to accommodate 100 persons).

The working paper also states that the present strength of parliamentarians is 442 (342 MNAs and 100 Senators) against which 362 suites are available in the existing Parliament Lodges. The sponsors intend to construct additional 104 to 106 suites, whereas shortfall is for only 80 suites.

It also mentioned that the Senate chairman and the National Assembly speaker have their independent residences as such the demand appears only for 78 suites so the sponsor should justify provision of additional 24 suites over and above the requirement.

It also includes residential accommodation for 500 personal staff-drivers of the parliamentarians along with common facilities such as TV rooms, kitchenette and toilets facilities would be provided.

The working paper states that the CDWP approved the PC-II (initial documentation) on November 26, 2007, at a cost of Rs49.355 million (Rs28.774 million for design and Rs20.58 million for detailed supervision) for appointment of consultants for construction of additional family suites along with gymnasium, mosque, servant rooms and garages for parliamentarians.

There is no detail whether the proposed design is replication of existing building or it is a new design.

In PC-1, it has been informed those architectural design and drawing were approved by the National Assembly speaker on March 8, 2007. The PC-1 was returned in July 2008 to update its cost estimates and obtain fresh approval of design and specifications of internal and external furnishings and fittings from the National Assembly speaker.

The official documents further state that the CDWP will ask the relevant authorities to furnish the supporting documents approved by the current National Assembly speaker in order to grant its nod.

It was also pointed out that a provision of Rs309.718 million and Rs53.5 million has been made in cost estimates of lump-sum basis for provision of furniture in suites and servant rooms without giving any details. The sponsor should provide specification, cost of a set of suite and servant quarters etc showing a proposed setting on a plan of a suite and servant room for meaningful examination.

The unit cost of Rs2,460 per square foot and Rs1,740 per square foot has been adopted for family suites and servant quarters respectively, without mentioning specification of civil, electrical and plumbing works.

The Planning Commission also pointed out that the PC-1 has not been prepared as per PC’s guidelines, which should be done.

It is not mentioned in the PC-1 that who will pay utility charges of electricity, gas, water and telephone. Methodology to recover full utility charges should be prepared and provided.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=198926