Senate body seeks details of mega projects from CDA

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

* Committee also asks authority to explain hike in cost of projects

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, Inter-Provincial Coordination and Special Initiatives on Monday asked Capital Development Authority (CDA) to provide complete details of the bidding and awarding of contracts to a firm for construction of Zero Point Interchange and Lehtrar Road.

It also sought details of the projects whose cost have either increased or decreased since start of work on them, and causes of cost escalation.

The committee met at parliament house to discuss the CDA initiatives to develop the city. Senator Shahid Hassan Bugti chaired the meeting, while senators Dr Safdar Ali Abbasi, Malik Rashid Ahmed Khan, Fauzia Fakhur-uz-Zaman, Dr Saeeda Iqbal, Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi and Rehana Yahya Baloch along with the Cabinet Division’s secretary, CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi and senior officials of prevalent ministries were in attendance.

The CDA chairman briefed the committee on five ongoing mega projects including Zero Point Interchange, Lehtrar Road, Cultural Complex Centre, Citizens’ Club and Fatima Jinnah Park.

He said work on Zero-Point Interchange and Lehtrar Road would be completed on time.

The committee directed the CDA to provide a report on the permission granted for construction of additional floors in multi-storey buildings over the last five years. It also sought complete details of those whose allotment of plots has been cancelled for violation of rules and regulations.

The committee underlined the need for awarding contracts in a transparent manner.

Taking exception to the construction of Citizens’ Complex inside Fatima Jinnah Park, the committee observed that the CDA was providing facilities to the elite class, ignoring commoners.

It said commoners couldn’t afford the facilities and luxuries to be provided in the club. It sought details of the procedure for obtaining membership of the club, fee, rules and other formalities within one month, while directing the CDA to change the plan so that the general public could avail themselves of the facilities provided there. app