Senate body emphasizes to carry out renovation work at Parliament lodges
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—The Senate House Committee Friday emphasized the need to carry out necessary repair, renovation and up-gradation work at Parliament Lodges and in the premises of Senate Banquet Hall urgently to make these places tidy, graceful and worthy of Parliamentarians.
The committee met here under the chairman of Acting Chairman Senate Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali and attended by Senators Naeem Hussain Chattha, Anisazeb Tahirkhaili, Gulshan Saeed, Kalsoom Parveen and Maulana Rahat Hussain, says a press release. The meeting recommended that up-gradation of the Senate Banquet Hall and Wash Rooms, Kitchen, Pantry be accorded priority alongwith renovation of the existing 130 Dinning Chairs.
In view of the availability of meager funds (Rs. 1.2 million) it has also been decided that instead of purchasing new expensive chairs for the Dinning Hall, the existing ones may be repaired or up-graded in an economic manner so that funds remain available for renovation and up-gradation of wash rooms and Pantry, which are presently giving a very shabby look to the entire premises and which formed an urgent priority.
The Acting Chairman informed the participants of the meeting that he would personally undertake a visit to the Parliament Lodges to look into the complaints made by a number of Parliamentarians regarding lack of proper up-keep there and appalling conditions prevailing there especially leakages, poor condition of furniture, carpets and curtains which make the life of inmates miserable. Earlier, the senior officials of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) requested to release Rs. 108.0 million for renovation of the parliament lodges.
Responding to the request, the Acting Chairman assured that he would take up the matter with the Finance Minister when he attends the meeting of the Senate Finance Committee scheduled for April 8. Besides pursuing the case with the Ministry as any more delay would complicate the things further. He, however, requested the members to determine priorities in view of paucity of funds, doing the most important thing first and then proceeding accordingly.
He informed that the Deputy Speaker, National Assembly is also being taken on board on the issue of renovation, security etc at the Parliament Lodges. It was also suggested that a Mail Room be earmarked at the Parliament Lodges to keep the important letters and correspondents of the Parliamentarians in safe hands and to ensure their prompt delivery. Some members complained occasional presence and stay of unauthorized persons in the premises of Parliament Lodges and the consequent security threat in the prevailing atmosphere.
The Acting Chairman assured that this grievance would be addressed promptly. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is planning to construct another 100 suites in the Parliament Lodges to accommodate the lawmakers residing in the rented houses in the federal capital, Member Engineering Moinuddin Kakakhel said Friday. “The summary of the project has been sent to the Planning Commission for approval of funds,” Member Engineering said.
He said once the PC-1 is approved, the Authority would hire contractor to execute the project. Directorate of Structure is also engaged in preparing the design of the new suites.
“We have allocated land for another two blocks of Parliament Lodges adjacent to the existing lodges,” Kakakhel said.
The project has been planned after some of the parliamentarians demanded the
Authority to add some suites as the existing complex has the capacity for about 400 parliamentarians while a large number of them lives in rented buildings in the capital or other areas.
Besides the addition of new suites, the Authority has also planned to install security cameras and walk-through gates at the lodges as frequent movement of visitors can also cause a security lapse.
The official said the Authority has also allocated a special budget for the installation of security equipment in the Lodges to check the visitors and vehicles moving inside the complex.
He said the plan for up-gradation of the existing lodges and provision of extra facilities has also been prepared. The Authority would construct a parking area, a gymnasium and other recreational facilities.
A state-of-the-art fire fighting equipment would also be provided in the Parliament Lodges as the old system is not that modern, he added.