ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances took serious exception to the imposition of developmental charges on allottees in CDA residential housing schemes despite the non-completion of the required development work, categorically declaring the levy unjustified, arbitrary, and unacceptable.
The Committee also resolved to formally convey its displeasure to the Chairman of the CDA over his persistent absence from meetings.
The panel met here on Friday with MNA Nuzhat Sadiq in the chair.
The committee, while discussing the assurance given by the Minister for Interior regarding the levy of charges on the pretext of developmental charges in Sector E-12, observed that the levy of charges was unjustified since the CDA had not followed the development schedule and had not given possession to the allottees in time.
The mover apprised the NA body that the CDA was behind schedule in E-12 and other sectors presently being developed, and it was unjustified to penalize allottees for the CDA’s negligence.
The committee, taking serious note of the issue, appointed a Sub-Committee under the Convenership of MNA Raja Qamarul Islam to look into the issue.
While discussing the implementation of assurance on the delay in operationalizing of sewerage pipelines in Bani Gala, Islamabad, the committee directed the CDA to operationalize the scheme and incorporate other areas of Bani Gala for bringing them into the sewerage waste disposal system.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner ICT assured the committee that PC-1 in this regard would be submitted to the competent forum for approval within one month.
The Director General of the CDA apprised the Committee that the allottees of any housing scheme had to bear the development charges due to the escalation in development costs. He informed that issues raised by the Committee in its previous meeting had been submitted to the CDA board; however, the decision was awaited.
The Committee, while discussing the implementation status of assurance given by the Minister of Communications regarding charging of exorbitant prices on food items by vendors on motorways, directed the National Highways Authority (NHA) to keep a check on prices of commodities and services on Motorways throughout the country. The Committee disposed of the Assurance.
The NHA officials apprised the committee that due to the award of the concessional contract of M2, matters about the maintenance of further licensing and other contractual arrangements fall within the purview of the Concessionaire.
The officials further informed that fluctuations in prices fall in the domain of district administrations; however, the Concessionaire and the NHA regularly inspect and report quality of services and prices.
The meeting was attended by MNAs: Raja Qamar Ul Islam, Muneeba Iqbal, Natasha Daultana, Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, Shahida Rehmani, Hameed Hussain, Aasia Ishaque Siddiqui, through Zoom, Sofia Saeed Shah, through Zoom.
Asiya Naz Tanoli, Dr Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Secretaries of the concerned Ministries, and senior officials of the concerned departments were also present.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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