According to a summary by Fakhar Zaman, Chairman PAL, NCHC was established in April 1994 under the directive of the then prime minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed with a prime objective to check the duplication and overlapping of activities of its institutions in the fields of culture, literature, performing arts and publishing.

Benazir Bhutto intended to provide a platform with a broad spectrum in order to coordinate the work of various cultural, performing art, history and literary organisations, and wished to ensure an integrated approach to avoid duplication and overlapping of activities between those institutions.

During the short period of its existence, NCHC succeeded in bringing out the first ever Cultural Policy of Pakistan and get it approved by the competent authority in 1995.

The summary says that the Cultural Policy is still lying unattended without implementation for the last 14 years due to non-continuation of NCHC, and it is imperative to review/reactivate the Commission with academic and cultural organisations such as PAL, National Language Authority, National Book Foundation, Urdu Science Board, National Documentation Centre, Pakistan National Council of the Arts, National Institute of Folk & Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa), Central Board of Film Censors, National Academy of Performing Arts, Iqbal Academy, Quaid-e-Azam Academy, Urdu Dictionary Board and National Institute of Historical & Cultural Research as its components.

NCHC was inoperative, as the later governments ignored the importance of academic and cultural activities to build a healthy society. The ever-changing scenario has necessitated the revival of NCHC as a supreme body to oversee, supervise, assess, review and coordinate the activities of those institutions that are working in isolation.

Source: The News

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One very prominent land developer, whose company is engaged in executing a number of ‘housing schemes’ in the federal capital, threw a bold challenge at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) as well as the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration and Islamabad Police when he said that they would never be able to take over the possession of Sector G-12 because of the high number of encroachments there!

“Leave alone this Sector G-12, I would bet anything if the CDA may manage to get the strip running along the Service Road parallel to Sectors G-11 and F-11 vacated from this ‘land mafia’ who patronise these encroachers! It is simply impossible under the existing Land Acquisition Policy of the CDA.

“They can never create as many commercial plots in any sector to accommodate the number of these people who have set up all sorts of shops/workshops/stores/service stations and what not,” the gentleman said, preferring not to be named.

“In fact the CDA would need to open more than a sector to create enough commercial and residential plots to allot to these people as ‘compensation’ who have grabbed the land on this strip in stark violation of the laws of the land. Not only that these people have grabbed CDA’s land, they are playing havoc with the civic amenities as they have established illegal power connections, gas connections and even water connections directly from the 18 inch diameter supply line while the inhabitants of these sectors are craving for a bucketful of water every day,” he pointed out.

He alleged that all this was made possible with open connivance of the concerned staff of the CDA, who instead of trying to prevent the new such encroachments/land grabbing and uprooting the ones established already, prefer to cast a blind eye to the problem that has already gone beyond salvage position.

“There must be over a couple of thousand such illegal structures set up on this strip alone. According to the existing ‘Land Acquisition Policy’ of the CDA the Authority is bound to give not only the alternate plot to these land grabbers but compensate them with cash for the built up property too. From where the CDA will create so many plots and the required funds is anybody’s guess,” he said.

On the other hand, he added, these people who have encroached upon the public land have become so strong that they don’t hesitate to react violently to any move by the CDA, the ICT Administration or even the Islamabad Police had always beaten back any attempt to dislodge them from the land that they had grabbed.

“They are heavily armed and most surprisingly they are backed by different political groups too, who immediately come to their aid whenever the CDA tries to remove these encroachments. It would not be much improper if we may compare this with the infamous ‘Sohrab Goth’ of Karachi as behind the scenes this place has already become a den of narcotics and illegal arms. And yet hardly anybody seems eager to pay attention to this problem that has already blown out of all proportions and gaining strength with each passing day,” he alleged.

While the CDA must be having its own reasons not take action against these illegal land grabbers, even more shocking is the inaction of the Islamabad Police because it is hardly any secret that this particular place has already become a safe heaven for all kind of criminals, from petty thieves to hardened criminals like killers/assassins, drug smugglers, drug peddlers, illegal arms dealers.

So, if it has become a ‘den’ of terrorists, be those Taliban or whatever, it would hardly be surprise. The recent terror attack in which the terrorists ambushed and killed the Brigadier of Pakistan Army and his driver and injured his guard while they were coming out of their home clearly indicate that this place has become a den of these terrorists already!

The Islamabad Police and the Intelligence Agencies are engaged in monitoring the in and outflow of traffic/people to and from the federal capital but hardly paying any attention to this massive problem that is simmering in their lap.

It is intriguing as to why the Interior Ministry or the Islamabad Administration or the Islamabad Police, or the intelligence agencies have not asked the CDA to remove these illegal encroachments from public land.

May be simply because it may need as big an operation as the one going on in South Waziristan right now to get this piece of land cleared from the clutches of the ‘land mafia’!

The concerned officials in the CDA, when contacted told ‘The News’ that they had tried a number of times in the past to remove these encroachments but every time these people ‘throw a spanner’ when they bring ‘stay orders’ from the courts of law, preventing the Authority from taking any meaningful action.

“There are thousands of these illegal occupants and every time we tried to launch an anti-encroachment/demolition operation to clear this area one or the other encroacher would get a stay order from the court of law and then the long process of litigation in the court would start,” the CDA spokesman said.

He said that while being the government agency the CDA has to follow the orders of the court of law in letter and spirit there is no such binding on these illegal land grabbers, who feel encouraged and grab more land and create more structures overnight!

He said that it is essential that the CDA get full support not only from the courts of law while dealing with these encroachers/land grabbers but from the Islamabad City Administration as well as the Islamabad Police.

“Without the support of these institutions the CDA alone would not be able to deal with this menace which is gaining mass every day and has already become a serious security threat to the inhabitants of the federal capital and the recent terror strike on this G-11-G-12/F-11-F-12 Service Road should be an eye-opener for all concerned,” the CDA spokesman said.

Source: The News

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4. Islamabad: CDA to engage private firm for Sector F-12 land acquisition
5. ISLAMABAD: Fed Govt Employees H Foundation (FGEHF) has failed to acquire land

“Industries Ministry supports the investment, provided it is not at the cost of local industry. In the 2007-08 budget the condition ‘if not manufactured locally’ was excluded from the SRO to the extent of imported plant, machinery and equipment for value above $50 million. This facility was provided to encourage investment, but it was reportedly massively misused,” sources said.

Prior to the 2008-09 budget, there were apprehensions that import of plant, machinery, equipment and capital goods at concessionary rate of 5 percent customs duty and free of sales tax could harm the local industry.

However, these concessions were restricted to such machinery, which was not manufactured locally. In the 2008-09 budget, under a conscientious policy to attract, incentivise and facilitate investment, the condition of local manufacturing was de-linked for such new industrial projects which would import plant, machinery, equipment and other capital goods worth $50 million and above. The said measure was implemented through SRO 554(1)/2008 by amending SRO 575(1)12006.

While implementing the measures, due to the expression “setting up of new industrial projects”, an issue has arisen as to whether the announced concession can also be applied to the import of plant, machinery and other capital goods for such on-going new industrial projects for which LCs were established prior to the issuance of SRO 554(1)/2008, on June 11, 2008 but shipments for such projects were made prior as well as after the said date.

The approval of the Cabinet through which the said measure was implemented does not reflect whether these concessions can also be availed by the on-going new industrial projects for which LCs were established prior to the issuance of the SRO and whose shipments were continuing.

Certain power projects (Atlas Power, Foundation Power, Sapphire Electric) have approached the FBR for extending the benefits of concessions on their partial shipments made after the issuance of SRO 5 54(1)/2008.

Supporting the proposals of the three power sector projects, the FBR stated that as the government encourages investment, particularly in the power sector, FBR has proposed that scope of concession should also be extended to the ongoing new projects where the LC was opened prior to the issuance of SRO 554(I)/2008, and the LC value of the partial shipment of machinery and equipment arriving after the issuance of the said SRO is $50 million or above.

This value does not include the value of shipments which had already arrived prior to the issuance of this notification. The proposal has been circulated to Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Investment and Ministry of Water & Power.

Sources said all Ministries have supported the proposal. Industries Ministry has, however, proposed that cables, wires, pipes and other auxiliary equipment should not be made part of the concession plan.

Source: Business Recorder

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According to documents available with Daily Times, the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) confirmed the minutes of its 11th meeting, which was held in April, with an amendment in item No 10.

“All the members supported the contention and authorised the Senate chairman to do all administrative and financial actions where necessary including appointment of his personal staff and class-IV employees without advertisement,” according to the amended item, which the committee confirmed in its 12th meeting.

The SFC also approved the re-employment of two joint secretaries to the Senate Secretariat – Abdul Sami Khan and Major ® Hamid Hassan – for a period of one year from the date of their superannuation.

The committee also approved the creation of a post of Law consultant and also approved the re-employment of Malik Dost Muhammad, a retired district and sessions judge against the said post – initially for a period of one year.

The Senate chairman is, however, authorised to extend the period of re-employment at his discretion, said the minutes of the 12th SFC meeting.

The SFC also authorised the Senate chairman to use a bullet-proof Mercedes car received from the Prime Minister’s Secretariat for ensuring his security.

The use of the bullet-proof car will be in addition to the SFC’s earlier authorisation for the Senate chairman to utilise official vehicles for inland official engagements.

The committee also authorised the Senate chairman to host functions, receptions and lunches/dinners for the Pakistani community, business entrepreneurs, parliamentarians and other groups during his official visits abroad.

Any expenditure incurred on the mentioned events will be paid as per actual bill, the committee decided.

The committee also authorised the chairman to tip drivers, security staff and waiters during his foreign visits, for which, it did not set the requirement of production of receipts.

During the meeting, the SFC was told that Rs 22.3 million were spent on foreign visits during the period from April to July 2009, which the committee approved, but maintained that such expenses should be curtailed.

The SFC also approved an expenditure of Rs 127,646 incurred on a luncheon hosted by the Senate chairman in honour of ministers and senators on April 23, 2009 and also approved the Rs 295,800 expenses on account of lunches hosted by the Senate chairman in honour of senators and ministers during the budget session.

The SFC also approved the purchase of a vehicle worth Rs 1.8 million for Leader of the House Nayyar Hussain Bukhari.

Source: Daily Times

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One very prominent land developer, whose company is engaged in executing a number of ‘housing schemes’ in the federal capital, threw a bold challenge at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) as well as the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration and Islamabad Police when he said that they would never be able to take over the possession of Sector G-12 because of the high number of encroachments there!

“Leave alone this Sector G-12, I would bet anything if the CDA may manage to get the strip running along the Service Road parallel to Sectors G-11 and F-11 vacated from this ‘land mafia’ who patronise these encroachers! It is simply impossible under the existing Land Acquisition Policy of the CDA.

“They can never create as many commercial plots in any sector to accommodate the number of these people who have set up all sorts of shops/workshops/stores/service stations and what not,” the gentleman said, preferring not to be named.

“In fact the CDA would need to open more than a sector to create enough commercial and residential plots to allot to these people as ‘compensation’ who have grabbed the land on this strip in stark violation of the laws of the land. Not only that these people have grabbed CDA’s land, they are playing havoc with the civic amenities as they have established illegal power connections, gas connections and even water connections directly from the 18 inch diameter supply line while the inhabitants of these sectors are craving for a bucketful of water every day,” he pointed out.

He alleged that all this was made possible with open connivance of the concerned staff of the CDA, who instead of trying to prevent the new such encroachments/land grabbing and uprooting the ones established already, prefer to cast a blind eye to the problem that has already gone beyond salvage position.

“There must be over a couple of thousand such illegal structures set up on this strip alone. According to the existing ‘Land Acquisition Policy’ of the CDA the Authority is bound to give not only the alternate plot to these land grabbers but compensate them with cash for the built up property too. From where the CDA will create so many plots and the required funds is anybody’s guess,” he said.

On the other hand, he added, these people who have encroached upon the public land have become so strong that they don’t hesitate to react violently to any move by the CDA, the ICT Administration or even the Islamabad Police had always beaten back any attempt to dislodge them from the land that they had grabbed.

“They are heavily armed and most surprisingly they are backed by different political groups too, who immediately come to their aid whenever the CDA tries to remove these encroachments. It would not be much improper if we may compare this with the infamous ‘Sohrab Goth’ of Karachi as behind the scenes this place has already become a den of narcotics and illegal arms. And yet hardly anybody seems eager to pay attention to this problem that has already blown out of all proportions and gaining strength with each passing day,” he alleged.

While the CDA must be having its own reasons not take action against these illegal land grabbers, even more shocking is the inaction of the Islamabad Police because it is hardly any secret that this particular place has already become a safe heaven for all kind of criminals, from petty thieves to hardened criminals like killers/assassins, drug smugglers, drug peddlers, illegal arms dealers.

So, if it has become a ‘den’ of terrorists, be those Taliban or whatever, it would hardly be surprise. The recent terror attack in which the terrorists ambushed and killed the Brigadier of Pakistan Army and his driver and injured his guard while they were coming out of their home clearly indicate that this place has become a den of these terrorists already!

The Islamabad Police and the Intelligence Agencies are engaged in monitoring the in and outflow of traffic/people to and from the federal capital but hardly paying any attention to this massive problem that is simmering in their lap.

It is intriguing as to why the Interior Ministry or the Islamabad Administration or the Islamabad Police, or the intelligence agencies have not asked the CDA to remove these illegal encroachments from public land.

May be simply because it may need as big an operation as the one going on in South Waziristan right now to get this piece of land cleared from the clutches of the ‘land mafia’!

The concerned officials in the CDA, when contacted told ‘The News’ that they had tried a number of times in the past to remove these encroachments but every time these people ‘throw a spanner’ when they bring ‘stay orders’ from the courts of law, preventing the Authority from taking any meaningful action.

“There are thousands of these illegal occupants and every time we tried to launch an anti-encroachment/demolition operation to clear this area one or the other encroacher would get a stay order from the court of law and then the long process of litigation in the court would start,” the CDA spokesman said.

He said that while being the government agency the CDA has to follow the orders of the court of law in letter and spirit there is no such binding on these illegal land grabbers, who feel encouraged and grab more land and create more structures overnight!

He said that it is essential that the CDA get full support not only from the courts of law while dealing with these encroachers/land grabbers but from the Islamabad City Administration as well as the Islamabad Police.

“Without the support of these institutions the CDA alone would not be able to deal with this menace which is gaining mass every day and has already become a serious security threat to the inhabitants of the federal capital and the recent terror strike on this G-11-G-12/F-11-F-12 Service Road should be an eye-opener for all concerned,” the CDA spokesman said.

Source: The News

Lahore Property | Maps | Gallery | News | Discussions

Also Check:

1. Rawalpindi: Chinar Park gets vacated from land mafia
2. Islamabad: CDA to demarcate land for cricket stadium
3. Islamabad: ICT police to recruit young ex-servicemen
4. Islamabad: CDA drive against encroached land soon
5. ISLAMABAD: Fed Govt Employees H Foundation (FGEHF) has failed to acquire land

One very prominent land developer, whose company is engaged in executing a number of ‘housing schemes’ in the federal capital, threw a bold challenge at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) as well as the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration and Islamabad Police when he said that they would never be able to take over the possession of Sector G-12 because of the high number of encroachments there!

“Leave alone this Sector G-12, I would bet anything if the CDA may manage to get the strip running along the Service Road parallel to Sectors G-11 and F-11 vacated from this ‘land mafia’ who patronise these encroachers! It is simply impossible under the existing Land Acquisition Policy of the CDA.

“They can never create as many commercial plots in any sector to accommodate the number of these people who have set up all sorts of shops/workshops/stores/service stations and what not,” the gentleman said, preferring not to be named.

“In fact the CDA would need to open more than a sector to create enough commercial and residential plots to allot to these people as ‘compensation’ who have grabbed the land on this strip in stark violation of the laws of the land. Not only that these people have grabbed CDA’s land, they are playing havoc with the civic amenities as they have established illegal power connections, gas connections and even water connections directly from the 18 inch diameter supply line while the inhabitants of these sectors are craving for a bucketful of water every day,” he pointed out.

He alleged that all this was made possible with open connivance of the concerned staff of the CDA, who instead of trying to prevent the new such encroachments/land grabbing and uprooting the ones established already, prefer to cast a blind eye to the problem that has already gone beyond salvage position.

“There must be over a couple of thousand such illegal structures set up on this strip alone. According to the existing ‘Land Acquisition Policy’ of the CDA the Authority is bound to give not only the alternate plot to these land grabbers but compensate them with cash for the built up property too. From where the CDA will create so many plots and the required funds is anybody’s guess,” he said.

On the other hand, he added, these people who have encroached upon the public land have become so strong that they don’t hesitate to react violently to any move by the CDA, the ICT Administration or even the Islamabad Police had always beaten back any attempt to dislodge them from the land that they had grabbed.

“They are heavily armed and most surprisingly they are backed by different political groups too, who immediately come to their aid whenever the CDA tries to remove these encroachments. It would not be much improper if we may compare this with the infamous ‘Sohrab Goth’ of Karachi as behind the scenes this place has already become a den of narcotics and illegal arms. And yet hardly anybody seems eager to pay attention to this problem that has already blown out of all proportions and gaining strength with each passing day,” he alleged.

While the CDA must be having its own reasons not take action against these illegal land grabbers, even more shocking is the inaction of the Islamabad Police because it is hardly any secret that this particular place has already become a safe heaven for all kind of criminals, from petty thieves to hardened criminals like killers/assassins, drug smugglers, drug peddlers, illegal arms dealers.

So, if it has become a ‘den’ of terrorists, be those Taliban or whatever, it would hardly be surprise. The recent terror attack in which the terrorists ambushed and killed the Brigadier of Pakistan Army and his driver and injured his guard while they were coming out of their home clearly indicate that this place has become a den of these terrorists already!

The Islamabad Police and the Intelligence Agencies are engaged in monitoring the in and outflow of traffic/people to and from the federal capital but hardly paying any attention to this massive problem that is simmering in their lap.

It is intriguing as to why the Interior Ministry or the Islamabad Administration or the Islamabad Police, or the intelligence agencies have not asked the CDA to remove these illegal encroachments from public land.

May be simply because it may need as big an operation as the one going on in South Waziristan right now to get this piece of land cleared from the clutches of the ‘land mafia’!

The concerned officials in the CDA, when contacted told ‘The News’ that they had tried a number of times in the past to remove these encroachments but every time these people ‘throw a spanner’ when they bring ‘stay orders’ from the courts of law, preventing the Authority from taking any meaningful action.

“There are thousands of these illegal occupants and every time we tried to launch an anti-encroachment/demolition operation to clear this area one or the other encroacher would get a stay order from the court of law and then the long process of litigation in the court would start,” the CDA spokesman said.

He said that while being the government agency the CDA has to follow the orders of the court of law in letter and spirit there is no such binding on these illegal land grabbers, who feel encouraged and grab more land and create more structures overnight!

He said that it is essential that the CDA get full support not only from the courts of law while dealing with these encroachers/land grabbers but from the Islamabad City Administration as well as the Islamabad Police.

“Without the support of these institutions the CDA alone would not be able to deal with this menace which is gaining mass every day and has already become a serious security threat to the inhabitants of the federal capital and the recent terror strike on this G-11-G-12/F-11-F-12 Service Road should be an eye-opener for all concerned,” the CDA spokesman said.

Source: The News

Lahore Property | Maps | Gallery | News | Discussions

Also Check:

1. Rawalpindi: Chinar Park gets vacated from land mafia
2. Islamabad: CDA to demarcate land for cricket stadium
3. Islamabad: ICT police to recruit young ex-servicemen
4. Islamabad: CDA drive against encroached land soon
5. ISLAMABAD: Fed Govt Employees H Foundation (FGEHF) has failed to acquire land

Source: The Nation

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RCB Chief Executive Officer Rafi Adil Siddique told ‘The News’ that it was demand of the public for reduction in building plan fee since it was raised in the start of the current month. Earlier, the RCB used to charge Rs80 per square yard from residential and Rs1,000 per square yard from the commercial owners.

For initiating development works in all wards, the RCB had raised the fee from Rs80 per square yard to Rs500 on residential and Rs2,000 per square yard from Rs1000 per square yard from commercial property holders. However, the people from all walks of life had demanded of the RCB President and Station Commander, Brigadier Zaman Khan Niazi, and the CEO to reconsider the decision relating to building plan fee.

The people had expressed their inability to pay Rs500 per square yard and Rs2000 per square yard development charges. In view of this situation, Station Commander Brig Niazi taking the decision in the best interest of the people has announced 50 per cent reduction in the building plan fee on both residential and commercial property holders.

According to the new decision, the RCB would charge Rs250 per square yard building plan fee for residential and Rs500 per square yard for commercial properties. Earlier, the commercial fee was raised from Rs200 to Rs1000 per square yard and now it has been reduced by 50 per cent. Similarly, the CEO also informed about a project which include carpeting and widening of roads from Chungi no 22 to Tench Bhatta to end traffic hazards.

He said that the RCB on the insistence of the residents of Chungi no 22 has stopped demolition of Eidgah. The purpose behind demolition of the Eidgah was to widen the road. A big mosque already exists at main road of Chungi Chowk where people could arrange Namaz-e-Janaza.

The demolition of Eidgah has been stopped on temporary basis. It would be demolished after provision of land near Aadara for building new Eidgah for the residents of Chungi no 22, he stated.

The CEO asked the people to cooperate with the RCB in ending traffic hurdles from the main Chungi Chowk to roads connecting Tench, Dhoke Syedan and Kalma Chowk. Rafi Adil also appealed to the owners of commercial and residential properties not to convert their 10 marlas land into two parts just to get themselves exempted from the tax. It causes huge loss worth millions of rupees to the board. “If the people do not comply with the orders of the RCB, then certainly legal action would be taken against the violators,” the CEO warned.

Source: The News

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Addressing a joint press conference with Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Major General Athar Abbas said 21 terrorists had been killed and three soldiers martyred while eight people had been injured in the last 24 hours

He reiterated that the military operation in South Waziristan was completely indigenous and added that the terrorists were facing large-scale desertions among their ranks due to growing pressure by the armed forces, and were trying to flee from the area.

“Reliable sources have reported that due to the pressure of the ongoing operation, there have been large-scale desertions amongst the rank of terrorists groups. It has been also reported that the terrorists are shaving and trimming their beards to escape from the area,” Abbas said.

He said the military had not reached an accord with any militant outfit in FATA, adding however, that the government had signed a few agreements with people from the Tribal Areas, including the Ahmedzai and Wazir tribes through the FATA Secretariat to secure their support against the terrorists.

Asked about collaboration with the US in executing the operation, the army spokesman said, “We have asked them (the US) to let us finish the job on our own and get the support of local population (against terrorists).”

To a question about reports of the US vacating checkposts along the Pak-Afghan border and its possible fallout in the Pakistani area, Abbas said the reports were being verified and if confirmed the matter would be taken up at the appropriate level and the reasons for withdrawal would be sought.

He said there were no reports that the terrorists in South Waziristan were getting assistance from Afghan Taliban.

Source: Daily Times

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Intimation: The committee, which met at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Shahid Hassan Bugti, directed the Cabinet Secretariat to immediately intimate all government divisions and departments not to engage the firm concerned for execution of any other project, since Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has suspended its license.

Inquiry: It also directed the Cabinet Secretariat to thoroughly probe why the Capital Development Authority (CDA) highups did not initiate timely action and let the firm continue the project. The committee desired that the inquiry report be furnished to it at the earliest.

Surety bond: It instructed CDA to ask the firm concerned to furnish a surety bond and also recover the cost of consultants hiring from it as a pre-cautionary measure. “A good deal of apprehensions are present in the minds of the people and we must make every effort to address and remove those concerns,” the committee observed.

Cost escalation: The Senate body also expressed its concern and displeasure over cost escalation with regard to a number of major development projects in Islamabad like the rehabilitation of Islamabad Highway from Faizabad to Airport turning, construction of underpasses on Shaheed-e-Millat Road, construction of underpass and flyover at the intersection of Jinnah Avenue and Faisal Avenue.

Bugti said the sole reason for this sorry state of affairs was lack of accountability. “We will continue to face such disasters as long as the element of accountability remains missing from our national thinking and planning,” he observed.

The committee underlined the need for fixing responsibility and punitive action against the responsible persons to avoid mishaps in future. It also called for a ‘futuristic vision’ to avoid traffic mess being seen at places like 7th Avenue and Jinnah Avenue.

Earlier, the CDA submitted that the Consultancy Contract for design and construction supervision was awarded to M/s ECIL in December 2006 by CDA well before the collapse of Sher Shah Bridge in Karachi (on 1st September, 2007). Pakistan Engineering Council, which is the statutory body to regulate the engineering profession in the country, has not provided CDA with any clear instructions to withdraw the contract, as it was an ongoing project, the CDA officials informed the committee. As of today, CDA is not in a possession of any notification regarding the black listing of the said firm M/s Engineering Consultants International (Pvt) Ltd.

Senators Shirala Malik, Kalsoom Parveen, Begum Najma Hameed, Rehana Yahya Baloch, Fauzia Fakhar-uz-Zaman, Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi and Muhammad Zahid Khan attended the meeting.

Source: Daily Times

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