Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary body has expressed extreme displeasure over the provision of incomplete and ambiguous information regarding welfare plots by the Capital Development Authority.

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on the Cabinet Secretariat was held here at the Parliament House under the chair of Senator Talha Mehmood, which discussed a six-point agenda item mainly pertaining to the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

The Member Estate CDA Khushal Khan represented the authority along with Deputy Director General Estate Management CDA Riaz Ahmed Randawa.

They briefed the committee that there were two separate criteria for the allotment of welfare plots for the public and the private sector according to the Islamabad Land Disposal Regulations.

For public sector, the plots for primary schools, mosques, churches and other worship places shall be provided free of cost while plots for secondary, higher education, community buildings and other facilities shall be available to the government on amenity rates.

On the other side for the private sector, the plots earmarked for educational institutions shall be allotted after inviting applications as per criteria to be laid down by the CDA board while the plots for other private institutions including plots for hospitals, maternity homes, clinics art gallery etc. shall be sold or leased out thorough auction.

The written brief for the committee further stated that the civic body had allotted a total of 88 welfare plots so far including 59 plots for educational purposes, 20 plots for hospitals and 9 plots for madrasas.

However, only the name of the institution, the respective sector and the year of allotment were mentioned in the CDA’s brief while the name of the allottee, complete location, rate of allotment and most importantly its present use were not included in the list.

The committee members showed their displeasure over the provision of incomplete data and the absence of the Chairman CDA. It directed the CDA to furnish complete details with present land use of these plots in alignment with the situation on the spot. The Chairman of the Committee Senator Talha Mehmood directed the CDA officers to come again to the next meeting with full preparations on the subject.

He warned: “If we find any person misusing the plots allotted to him for welfare purposes then we recommend the cancellation of the same plot.”

He questioned further as to how a full-fledged commercial university was working on a plot originally allotted for a clinic and said: “The CDA should conduct a survey to assess the actual usage of these plots on the ground and should submit the report in the next meeting.”

Another committee member Senator Kamil Ali Agha commented: “There is no free lunch in this world, if plots allotted for welfare purposes are being used for commercial purposes then there must be a person, who receives dues (bribery) for his services.”

While talking to Daily Times, the Member Estate of the CDA said; “There is no need of a fresh survey as we have already got enough record in our hands, but it could not be produced today due to miscommunication and the detailed record would be shared with the committee in the next meeting.”

Meanwhile, the committee was also briefed about the ongoing repair and maintenance work on IJP Road and the internal roads of Sector I-9 and I-10. The CDA officials assured that it would be completed within the given timeframe.

They further argued; “The main hindrance in the completion of this work are the unfavourable weather conditions.” The meeting was attended by Senator Kalsom Parveen, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, Senator Yousaf Badini, Secretary CADD, and officers from the CDA.