Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Another example of extravagancy of the government and excessive use of resources has surfaced as the Public Works Department (PWD) demands Rs.21.82 million for the repair of bathrooms of the Prime Minister’s (PM) office.

According to details, PWD prepared a PC-I for the rehabilitation and refurbishment of the Prime Minster office and the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) of the Planning Commission has approved this project.

The plan includes renovation of the auditorium hall, replacement of wooden floors, replacement of marble flooring, replacement of ceiling and venetian blinds, uplifting of cafeteria, special repair of bathrooms, replacement of carpets and procurement of new furniture.

The whole project will cost Rs.202.243 million to the public exchequer. Interestingly, the major chunk of the amount will be spent on the special repair of bathrooms in the PM office, which will cost Rs.21.82 million.

The PC-I prepared for the rehabilitation of the PM’s office requires another Rs.14.07 million for the replacement of woollen carpets.

Moreover, according to the plan Rs.13.11 million will be spent on the replacement of the marble at zero level of the PM’s office.

Around 10 million rupees will also be spent on the replacement of marble over domes and installation of fire equipment inside and outside the Prime Minister’s office, whereas replacement of tiles of the moats and fountains will cost around seven million rupees.

Furthermore, Rs.5.63 million for the renovation of the auditorium hall, Rs.2.37 million for roof treatment, Rs.4.37 million for the replacement of carpets with procelain tiles, Rs.2.72 million for procurement of new furniture and Rs.2.26 million for the repair of furniture are also included in the PC-I.

The Prime Minister’s office was constructed in 1997 on the plot measuring 16.40 acres having a total covered area of 359.34 square feet at the Constitution Avenue, Islamabad. The building is itself controversial since its establishment as several opposition leaders believe that it is useless and declared it as a waste of public money.

An insider of the Ministry of Housing and Works, which is the financing agency for the said project said on the condition of anonymity; “It is not the first time that the renovation of the PM’s office is going to happen, but it is a huge structure which needs continuous care and spending.”

“However, it is surprising for me that the PWD prepared a proposal of Rs.21.82 million to repair the bathrooms of the PM’s office only,” he added; “I think all the work should be done within the limits as it is public money, which we spend on different projects.”

An officer working at the Prime Minister’s office has also criticised the project and said; “There is no need for replacing so many things, which are mentioned in the project i.e. replacement of marble, carpets and tiles as we have already got a good stuff of these items in PM’s office.”

He added; “The government should only replace those things which are out of order or faulty rather replacing the new style with the old style as for instance the PWD can make a new look of floors by just polishing the marble, but it includes its replacement, which is a misuse of the public exchequer.”

The aforementioned project will be financed through the Public Sector Development Project (PSDP) and it will be completed in one year. The Ministry of Housing and Works is the sponsoring agency for this project.