CDA seals 250 buildings in response to directives of SC, IHC: NA body told

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior was informed on Monday that Capital Development Authority (CDA) sealed around 250 buildings in various areas on the directives of Supreme Court and Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The committee meeting, which was held here with Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz, directed the CDA to furnish the court orders along with complete report to the committee within two days.

The Member Planning and Design CDA briefed the committee about the buildings sealed by the civic body in E-11. The CDA officials informed the committee that the authority is working on the issue and as per the directions of the courts and a consultant will also be hired soon.

The secretary interior briefed the committee about implementation status of the recommendations of the standing committee. The Bill titled "the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, 2019" was discussed and deferred till next meeting with the committee's direction for the secretary finance to attend the meeting of the committee for complete deliberations on the bill.

The committee discussed the alleged fraud by Jammu & Kashmir Cooperative Society and submitting wrong answer on the floor of the House. The secretary society informed the committee that 54 plots were not in the revised layout plan, for which the previous society was responsible and inquiry might be initiated against it. The Circle Registrar Cooperative Societies informed the committee that inquiry against the society was also underway.

The deputy chief development, Ministry of Interior, briefed the committee regarding the budgetary proposals relating to Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the financial year 2020-21. The committee was informed that the PSDP included 152 projects with 40 ongoing and 112 new projects. Total funds demanded for the PSDP amount to Rs 21,558.890 million out of which Rs 10,407.807 million are for completing ongoing projects and Rs 11,151.083 million are demanded for new projects. The PSDP for the financial year 2020-21 was approved unanimously by the committee.

The committee directed to give priority to completion of ongoing projects. It also recommended that in the projects of Islamabad Capital Territory, the projects relating to uplift of rural area of Islamabad must be given priority. The committee recommended that the project for shifting of Headquarters Sindh Rangers from Jinnah Kot might be included in the PSDP to safeguard this national heritage.

The representative of the Federal Employees Cooperative Housing Society (FECHS) briefed the committee about the joint venture executed on 07-10-2011 between FECHS and National Assembly Employees Cooperative Housing Society (NAECHS). The committee directed FECHS to submit detail along with present status of land purchased by the NAECHS. The committee also directed the ministry to probe the matter and report to the committee accordingly.