Probe initiated for irregularities: CDWP approves ''Petroleum House'' construction

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved construction of ''Petroleum House'' in Islamabad, costing Rs 911.121 million, to accommodate the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and its allied departments under one roof for better working and curtailing huge expenditure on rent of buildings.
According to sources in the Planning Commission, the project was discussed in a pre-CDWP meeting on October 18, 2011 under the chairmanship of PC Member, Infrastructure, and all technical issues were resolved. The Planning Commission Member informed the sponsors that since the work had been executed without prior approval of the competent forum, an enquiry may be initiated to fix the responsibility of such physical and financial irregularities.
The CDWP decided to initiate an inquiry against concerned officials for executing revised scope of the project without prior approval of the competent authority. Sources said that the original PC-1 of the project was approved by the CDWP in 2005 at a rationalised cost of Rs 225.522 million with completion period of 3 years. But later on, the PC-1 was revised due to change in the scope and design of the project, which was got approved in principle by CDWP on 20-3-2007, at a cost of Rs 452.44 million, subject to modifications in design of the building to make the building energy-efficient.
They said that accordingly, the sponsors have now submitted a revised PC-1 at an enhanced cost of Rs 911.121 million. The revised scope has been executed without prior approval of the competent forum and an expenditure of Rs 409.1 million has been reported so far, against 65 percent physical progress.