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The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has raised objections over the new seven-storey building of the United States (US) Embassy in Islamabad's Diplomatic Enclave, saying that the top floor of the building can be "conveniently" used for surveillance of the government offices located in the adjacent area.
According to an audit report released by the AGP office, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had withheld the NOC [No-Objection Certificate] for the US embassy until the approval from the prime minister, as the CDA can only sanction the construction of up to five-storey buildings in the area.
However, the US government went ahead with the construction of the seven-storey building without waiting for the premier's approval, DawnNews reported.
"Despite pending approval by the prime minister, construction had started,” the audit report says.
According to a Dawn report published on November 17, 2011, however, a CDA official had confirmed that a plan for a new US embassy building had been approved by the authority.
The audit report claims that the CDA chairman had received a letter from security agencies on February 14, 2012, that expressed concerns about the construction of an seven-storey building, saying it "would overtake most of the ministries and other official buildings along the Constitution Avenue".
The AGP audit report also warned that “in all probabilities, [the] rooftop of the building will be utilised to install surveillance devices that could be used to monitor government offices in the vicinity”.
The report acknowledges that the "irregularity" occurred due to the "lack of oversight" and failure of implementation of rules. It adds that despite constant requests made by the AGP, a department accounts committee meeting could not be held.
The AGP audit report has recommended a high-level inquiry against the construction of the building and stresses upon "appropriate corrective action".
It is worth mentioning that the building blueprint was approved in January 2012, by a committee comprising officials of the CDA, representatives of Planning, Emergency and Disaster Management and members nominated by the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners. Not one of them had raised an objection at the time.
After a local intelligence agency raised concerns, the city managers had decided to limit the height of the new US embassy complex.
“The intelligence agency asked the CDA to explain how it could approve a seven-storey structure in the Diplomatic Enclave and urged the CDA to take appropriate action,” Dawn had reported.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (64) Closed
Sep 17, 2017 04:01pm
Good news !
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Sep 17, 2017 04:02pm
Why this idea didn't hatch when the project of embassy premises was being approved by the CDA, where were our intelligence agencies..?
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Sep 17, 2017 04:04pm
I don't think US depends on high tower for surveillance. There are many other ways of doing surveillance. Remember Abbottabad?
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Sep 17, 2017 04:05pm
America wants to construct an Embassy or a hotel?
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Sep 17, 2017 04:09pm
'AGPR objection is valid .
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Sep 17, 2017 04:10pm
CDA is mafia all about money , corrupt system . Mafia is running country ,keeping pakistan under america surivallances , must stop on immediatly base , these thing does not happen in america or europe even in india but these things happen in pakistan due to massive corrupt system which is running country and no rule of law and week justic system, which keep pakistan under occuption of foreign forces.
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Sep 17, 2017 04:22pm
I still wonder that when Islamabad was designed and planned, was it due to CDA?. If not then how a so called CDA meant to neglect the soveringity of the country? Wether or not US embassy keep eye or check we must understand the priority for safe Pakistan.
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Sep 17, 2017 04:28pm
Rules are rules and no one above them. They are constructing in OUR country not in USA and why have the authorities become so lean and passive to stop their construction? Do they also want them to spy on us?
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Sep 17, 2017 04:31pm
Can't they use satellites for the said purpose? How did they locate OBL?
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Sep 17, 2017 04:37pm
We should treat them the we treat India , fail to do that mean compromising on national intrest.
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Sep 17, 2017 04:40pm
Order top closer or order move location of embassy. Why waste soo much time in discussion.
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Sep 17, 2017 04:43pm
Who will wait to get permission fron the corrupt govt one has to pay bribe at every stage,
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Sep 17, 2017 04:45pm
A question of wisdom: The superpower has conquered the stars, and the domestic intelligence is limited to the conquest of 7 floors.
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Sep 17, 2017 04:52pm
If the US government went ahead with the construction of the seven-storey building without waiting for the premier's approval, we must refuse to give any approval for violating the rules. Orders must be issued for strict compliance.
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Sep 17, 2017 05:01pm
Take it down . Law of Pakistan THEY should follow . Cant take us as their slaves .
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Sep 17, 2017 05:01pm
And some section of media and society wants "civilian supremacy ". This is what happens. Unless we have patriots and upright civilians in sensitive posts, don't expect civilians supremacy. It is earned not given. US embassy in size and personal must match Pakistan embassy in Washington, square meter by square meter. Any extra encroachment must be brought down by force.
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Sep 17, 2017 05:01pm
You got to be kidding.. Why the hell they need a seven story building for embassy in our capital?? No way on earth they should be allowed that.
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Sep 17, 2017 05:02pm
Theres a saying, and i think it applies very much so in this instance, the saying is the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. given that their seems to be some justified concern,regarding the security of interactions in the future.if the building goes up then some advice regarding security will be needed, and anyway its very likely that a foreign power can snoop from hundreds of miles away anyway,i think it goes on all the time all over the world.
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Sep 17, 2017 05:20pm
This is all due to CDA mistakes. Why to blame the U.S. officials when your own people are dishonest, unscrupulous, fraudulent, corrupt, crooked, immoral, deceitful, unethical, shoddy and shady, to say the least? How can CDA approve the new seven-storey building of the U.S. Embassy in the strategically located Diplomatic Enclave of Islamabad-Islamic Republic of Pakistan, wherein as per the prevailing rules and regulations, CDA can only sanction the construction of up to five-storey buildings in the area? How can the construction of the seven-storey U.S. Embassy has still continued without the proper approval of the building permit? These suspicious actions by CDA prove beyond any reasonable doubt that "something is wrong somewhere" and maybe the centuries old capitalistic formula "money walks, money talks, money rocks and sometimes stalks" has played a major role in making the ends meet for the "movers and shakers" in Islamabad as well as Washington, D.C.
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Sep 17, 2017 05:24pm
Who permitted the construction of the building and what did he get in return from the U.S. Embassy are two questions which need answers. Perhaps some day someone will be able to get an answer to these questions.
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Sep 17, 2017 05:27pm
They should be told to stop the construction and bring the height down to the required level of even lower.
They are not a strategic ally any more... They said so.
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Sep 17, 2017 05:31pm
So have we got the guts to stop them? Funny, when all the family members of our so-called "elites" are having US passports.
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Sep 17, 2017 05:54pm
Most irresponsible comments from AGP, people are talking about 'Freedom of Informations'and you are making hue and cry about 'superstitious surveillance ' .If you are so embrassed about your parda please install dark black glasses on your windows. And you further says it can be regularized by PM approval. If approved by PM then where will be your 'superstitious surveillance ' misnomers.
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Sep 17, 2017 05:57pm
United States likes to be treated as an exception.
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Sep 17, 2017 06:01pm
Latest approach to counter Trump agenda against Pakistan.
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Sep 17, 2017 06:11pm
They have been listening to every single Govt and private communication for years. AGP wake up and smell the roses.
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Sep 17, 2017 06:14pm
It is simple.The Govt.Offices should put black windows.Problem solved?
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Sep 17, 2017 06:27pm
AGP should worry about Pakistanis that are happy to provide information for a Kilo or two of rice.
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Sep 17, 2017 06:34pm
if the blueprints for the building design were approved by authorities in 2012, as this story says, then approvals were given and should not be subjected to second guessing at a later date after construction has begun...Pakistan duplicity in simply regulating buildings is also very apparent...
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Sep 17, 2017 06:57pm
Thanks to General Musharaf who allowed USA free work inside Pakistan.
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Sep 17, 2017 07:01pm
Our intelligence agencies and other institutions keep themselves busy in managing the civilian governments but can conveniently overlook the matters critical for national security.
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Sep 17, 2017 07:53pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad
You've written long sentences. Looks like you got yourself an updated thesaurus ...
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Sep 17, 2017 08:06pm
That is an old school thinking, US doesn't use binoculars any more for surveillance, use ultra sophisticated high tech method.
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Sep 17, 2017 08:37pm
Simple solution: shift sensitive offices to basements, grow lots of thick trees around the ministries and avoid wireless communications except when ordering take away.
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Sep 17, 2017 08:50pm
Laughable!
Modern surveillance does not require sitting on top of a high building with binoculars. Pakistani institutions are fast becoming the laughing stock of the world.
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Sep 17, 2017 10:43pm
@Mir why you think the powerful corrupt establishment should be worried about the country they rule since their money and whole family are living abroad, they just here to rule like mafia monarchs, if there anything happen in this country there is no harm to them since their loyalty their wealth all extended family and everything is in other developed countries.
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Sep 17, 2017 11:07pm
Wow I would really like to know how the top floor only can be used and what great science has been used by none other than Auditor General to come to such an amazing conclusion?
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Sep 18, 2017 12:58am
America does not need to do any kind of surveillance in Pakistan. The government, its employees, and departments grant access to whatever America needs without any hesitation.
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Sep 18, 2017 01:07am
US satellite surveillance over Pak is in place since long, do they need binoculars on roof top.
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Sep 18, 2017 01:35am
Our security comes first.
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Sep 18, 2017 02:35am
@Ahmed bin Babar It was mushrraf period.
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Sep 18, 2017 05:32am
The Auditor General of Pakistan does not understand the function of embassies. Close the US Embassy. It's your country. Americans have the Terra Satellite that can read your mail. They don't need to peek out of windows.
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Sep 18, 2017 05:47am
How and who will implement the Audit report?
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Sep 18, 2017 06:43am
"However, the US government went ahead with the construction of the seven-storey building without waiting for the premier's approval, DawnNews reported"
Wow..If USA can do this ,just imagine if "All weather" friend decides to construct a Kutub Minar kind of building in their premises,can anyone stop them.?
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Sep 18, 2017 06:47am
good for government officials because they need multiple entry visas and green cards in states.
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Sep 18, 2017 06:54am
@BhagwanRam It much easier this way and you get diplomatic immunity. Checks and balances are all around, just like how RAW monkey Gulboshan Yadev was captured.
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Sep 18, 2017 07:15am
Agencies like CDA should be that much strong to stop illegal constructions of any type. Its such a pity to read that " the US government went ahead with the construction of the seven-storey building without waiting for the premier's approval".
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Sep 18, 2017 07:23am
Any room for Fake profiles? look alike Skins? there isn't any way of verifying the spermaniacs and Crowd Sourcers. The term is new and has no history older than 2 years in social media, like minded groups and propaganda fascination creates virtual realities that never bring peace home. All the best for this Off sure building ...
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Sep 18, 2017 08:00am
Well founded fears. Why doesn't Pakistan government take firm steps to check this? Where us the army and security ? Do they not want to bell the cat and wish to push the civilians to the front?
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Sep 18, 2017 08:04am
@BhagwanRam - there are many surveillance techniques. Abbottabad had no surveillance at all, the Afridi chap was also a scapegoat. The man hidden in that town by the USA's so called 'friend'Musharraf, was later sold to them by some other top officers for millions of bucks. That's the reality.
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Sep 18, 2017 08:31am
USA knows evesdropping very well. They can monitor remotely by electronic devices. Visual spying techniques are one hundred years old. This is 2017 and we are talking about the USA. Laughable concerns.
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Sep 18, 2017 08:39am
Who should be the one to call the shots?
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Sep 18, 2017 09:07am
So, if you dont like the US, start digging out all those trivial issues. What was the auditor doing for those previous years and why is he pointing out now? The issue is not about right or wrong and it is clear that, if approval is not there the US should not have built and if the approval is there then the auditor cannot question now. But the real point is that, why is it coming up now? Is it because, the relationship with the US is on downtrend? Then even the US can start digging trivial issues and create trouble for Pakistan. So please do not be over enthusiastic in chest beating.
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Sep 18, 2017 10:25am
In era of drones and satellites, AGP thinks this way. I seriously have doubts over level of techncial education in Pakistan.
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Sep 18, 2017 11:20am
@M.Saeed Consider this, the plans were approved by CDA, after the construction was on its way, intelligence agency noticed and warn CDA, they realize their mistake and tried to stop construction. They failed legally to stop it, because it was their mistake not the builder's, then they tell the builders, they send request to PM for special permission, which is pending, while the construction continued as of approved plans. Tell me if any court in the world would allow destruction of the building that was approved by CDA. Legally not.
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Sep 18, 2017 11:52am
"Despite pending approval by the prime minister, construction had started,” the audit report says.
Shame!
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Sep 18, 2017 12:19pm
In today's world with satellites, mobile phones etc, the AGP's claim, of a building being capable of use for surveillance, has to be one of the biggest jokes of the year. It reflects a 15th century mindset.
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Sep 19, 2017 01:23am
These people have no brain. they have no idea what a satellite can do.
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Sep 19, 2017 04:52am
This is not the first time we hear that Pakistan's Sovereignty is being undermined due to negligence, incompetence and corruption of the political lot and the bureaucrats.
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Sep 19, 2017 06:17am
Most ridiculous concern about the building height. US does not need to build a tall building for surveillance in this day and age. (Not to say they are doing the right thing to build a tall building if rules do not allow).
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Sep 19, 2017 09:48am
CDA employees also have a right for pursuing US Citizenship as reward by using there position in organization.
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Sep 19, 2017 12:01pm
CDA Still thinking to take corrective measures?
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Sep 19, 2017 12:03pm
CDA Still thinking whether they should take corrective measures??
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Sep 19, 2017 06:11pm
If we want any kind of improvement in the state of affairs of our enslaved country, we must demand strict measures and punishment for those who approved, and then let it be constructed without approvals; rather who gave approvals for an illegitimate structure, beyond 5-storeys.
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