The National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances on Thursday directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to conduct a high-level inquiry into prolonged litigation over land acquired for new residential sectors, observing that allottees should not be penalised for the authority’s negligence.
The committee, which met at Parliament House under the chairpersonship of Nuzhat Sadiq, also unanimously endorsed the report of its sub-committee on the levy of development charges in underdeveloped sectors of Islamabad.
The committee was informed that most CDA sectors remained entangled in litigation for decades, while legal proceedings showed serious delays and inaction on part of the authority’s legal team.
Members expressed concern over the absence of the CDA chairman from the sub-committee meeting despite prior notice, terming it disrespect to the parliamentary forum.
The committee recommended a thorough inquiry to identify lapses and delays in the legal process relating to land acquisition.
Meanwhile, the committee disposed of the assurance regarding delay in the operationalisation of sewerage pipelines in Bani Gala after being informed that the system had been made functional. Officials said a PC-I to include other areas of Bani Gala in the sewerage network had been submitted to the DDWP for approval.
The committee also disposed of an assurance by the minister for communications regarding overcharging by vendors on motorways after the National Highways Authority submitted documentary evidence of action taken against the offenders.
While discussing the assurance given by the minister for information regarding payment of minimum wages, the committee accepted the ministry’s reply but directed that minimum salaries must also be ensured for workers hired through outsourced services.
The committee further discussed the assurance by the minister for federal education on the non-provision of laptops to students of Allama Iqbal Open University and directed the ministry to create a special provision for students from erstwhile tribal areas under the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme. Officials informed the committee that distribution had begun and 1,800 laptops had already been provided to AIOU students.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Raja Qamarul Islam, Shahida Rehmani, Hameed Hussain, Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, Sofia Saeed Shah, Natasha Daultana, Shagufta Jumani and Agha Rafiullah, along with secretaries of concerned ministries and senior officials.