Parliament Lodges: Senate body irked by CDA's failure to hire new consultant

A subcommittee of Senate House Committee Monday directed chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) to investigate the matter of hiring a fresh consultant to complete construction of Parliament Lodges despite paying 75 percent of the payments to previous consultant, and submit the inquiry report to the main committee within a month.

The committee meeting was held here under the chairmanship of Senator Mir Muhammad Yousuf Badini to discuss and review the construction of new block of Parliament Lodges. The meeting expressed serious anger over the irresponsive attitude of CDA in completion of the decade-old project.

Chairman committee Yousuf Badini directed the CDA that the inquiry committee should consist of non-CDA officials to probe the matter and probe should be completed within a month, adding that the report must be tabled before the main house committee. The panel was informed that the previously hired consultant has been pressuring the CDA to end the contract and has already received 75 percent of the payment.

The committee took serious notice of this issue and said that only after responsibility is fixed on all those involved, the previous consultant can be relieved. The committee asserted that all codal formalities be fulfilled as the hiring of the consultant was against the rules; hence all those involved in appointing him have to be taken to task. In addition to this, irregularities committed by the consultant during the appointment have to be investigated as well.

The committee asked the civic body as why the officials relieved the previously hired consultant to whom 75 percent payment of the project has already been made, saying such lax behavior will not be tolerated. Regarding hiring of the new consultant, the committee was informed that the CDA Engineering Wing is overseeing the hiring process.

A case has been submitted to the CDA Board in its meeting held on 18-12-2019 and the summary has been approved. After the appointment of the new consultant, cost estimates will be prepared. Tenders will be invited after preparation of tender documents for the balance work by the consultant.

Yousuf Badini regretted that no real progress has been made in terms of the probe and that the report prepared by the CDA will have to be submitted to the main committee as the timeframe of the sub-committee has been exhausted. Besides Senator Mir Muhammad Yousuf Badini, the meeting was attended by Senator Kulsoom Parveen, Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen and senior officers from the CDA along with all concerned.