Islamabad : Sub-Committee of Senate House Committee, chaired by Senator Nasir Mehmood, met to review the repair and maintenance of existing lodges and the construction of 104 new lodges at Islamabad. The meeting was attended by Senators Poonjo Bheel, Hidayatullah Khan, Husna Bano, and Syed Waqar Mehdi.
Members expressed serious concern over the substandard quality of repair works, execution without tendering, and delays in project completion. Senator Waqar Mehdi (Lodge H-408) questioned payments made to contractors despite unsatisfactory work and highlighted the absence of a functional firefighting system and poor maintenance conditions.
The Director CDA informed that tenders for 69 lodges would soon be floated and 50–60 suites renovated, including Lodge H-408. The Chairman CDA briefed that Rs. 870 million in liabilities remain pending and a summary has been moved to the Ministry of Finance for fund release.
The Committee directed that no payment be made without a completion report signed by the concerned Senator, and that a warranty period be ensured for all works. It also stressed standardization of materials, outsourcing of repair work, and formation of a monitoring committee for quality assurance.
The Planning Commission informed that the project’s cost has reached Rs. 7.8 billion, and any design change could raise it to Rs. 10 billion. The Committee decided that no design modifications be made to avoid audit objections.
A visit to the 104 new lodges was scheduled for 17th November to inspect the progress, with participation of the consultant and contractor.
The Committee reaffirmed its resolve to ensure transparency, accountability, and timely completion of all projects at the Parliament Lodges.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
