Parliamentarians get new luxury lodges for Rs 9.2bn
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011\01\20\story_20-1-2011_pg11_1
Parliamentarians get new luxury lodges for Rs 9.2bn
* PM asks CDA, NA speaker to deliberate on feasibility of constructing an underground passage for parliamentarians from Parliament Lodges to Parliament House
* CDA directed to ensure speedy start of work on housing project at Kurri.
By Ikram Junaidi
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday directed Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Imntiaz Inayat Elahi to ensure international standards and completion of Parliament Lodges extension project, spread over four acres, within stipulated time.
He was addressing a gathering at the groundbreaking ceremony of 104 additional family suites for the parliamentarians to be constructed at Rs 2.9 billion cost.
Gilani said he in his capacity as Minister for Housing in 1980s had the credit to construct several landmark buildings including Parliament House, the Gulshan-e-Jinnah Complex, Parliament Lodges, Ministers Enclave and Faisal Mosque in the federal capital. Gilani said he was pleased to perform the groundbreaking of Parliament Lodges extension project.
Gilani asked the CDA authorities and the National Assembly (NA) Speaker to deliberate on the feasibility of constructing an underground access from the Parliament Lodges to the Parliament building. He said it would be faster, shorter and secure way and help ease the parking problem.
He also directed CDA to ensure speedy start of work on the low-cost housing project at Kurri.
The prime minister said he was pleased to note that the scheme initiated to provide housing to the federal government employees was still continuing and those who spend their entire life in the service of the nation were provided shelter, when they retire.
Gilani rejected reports that he had given any plots to 11 journalists. He said the plots were awarded out of the three percent quota for the journalist community and the applications had to route through the Information Minister to the Housing Minister. “I have nothing to do with it,” Gilani said, adding, he accepted all the criticism with an open heart and did not even deny it.
Senate Chairman Farooq H Naek, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Leader of House in Senate Nayyar Bokhari, CDA Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi and a larger number of parliamentarians attended the function.