ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel was informed on Friday that development work in I-12 has been facing an inordinate delay causing an escalation in its cost.

Since 2015 when the CDA awarded the contract for the construction of major roads worth Rs248.4 million, the sector’s development has been marred by controversies. Under the contract agreement, the project was to be completed in nine months.

The sector has over 6,000 residential plots and once developed it will be a major contributor to affordable housing in Islamabad.

However, work could not be completed due to a dispute between the contractor and the civic agency because of a faculty survey. CDA officials said later a fresh survey was conducted but around 20pc work on the construction of major roads was still incomplete.

In January this year, the CDA awarded the contract for construction of service roads and the project was to be completed by the end of December. However, so far, only 25pc work has been carried out. The officials said work was halted a few months ago due to design issues.

Contract for service roads was awarded in January this year; project was to complete in Dec but so far only 25pc progress made, says senator

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior, which met with Senator Mohsin Aziz in the chair, took up the delay in development of the sector.

PTI’s Senator Fawzia Arshad, who had earlier taken up the issue in the Senate on a calling attention notice, briefed the committee that the development work in the sector had been facing an inordinate delay.

She said contract for the construction of service roads was awarded in January this year and it was to be completed in December. However, there is only 25pc physical progress. She told the committee that in 2009 the CDA had changed the sector from a tech-town to a full residential sector but so far the civic agency has failed to develop it.

Last year, CDA approved PC-1 worth Rs8214 million for the development of the sector, including complete infrastructure development, electrical and mechanical works and provision of civic amenities and other services.

According to the PC-I, the sector is to be fully developed by 2023.

However, CDA Member Rana Shakeel Asghar told the committee that the civic agency was making progress in development of the stalled sector. He said stalled sectors remained neglected for 30 years but the current CDA management had started development work in E-12, Park Enclave, 1-12 and I-15. He said development work was in full swing in I-15 and soon the CDA will start handing over possession of developed plots to the allottees.

Meanwhile, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said there were five housing societies in E-11.

He said a natural stream before entering the sector was 80 feet wide but got squeezed to 20 feet after entering the area, resulting into overflowing of water. He said unauthorised high-rise buildings had been constructed in the sector.

The committee members showed their concerns over squeezing of the nullah. However, the committee was told that there were 150 nullahs in Islamabad and all were being cleaned.

Senator Talha Mahmood said illegal excavation was also being carried out. Seconding his view, Senator Fawzia Arshad said without involvement of concerned officials, occupation of land and unauthorised construction could not take place. The committee directed the authorities concerned to submit a report on issues related to E-11 in the next meeting.

The committee also discussed the issue of about 485 kiosks in the capital and directed the Ministry of Interior to submit a report within 15 days.

Earlier, the meeting also discussed the issue of a protest staged by students in Quetta against alleged faulty exams conducted by the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC).

A superintendent of police from Balochistan briefed the committee but the committee decided to take up the issue again and directed the inspector general of the Balochistan police to appear before the committee in the next meeting and brief the members about the issue.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2021