ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Housing and Construction Mohammad Akram Khan Durrani has said that two rupees have not been spent but the allegation of Rs 34 billion corruption has been levelled in Thalian Housing Scheme.
Speaking at the National Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Works here on Thursday, he said land is purchased. He said the ministry has been advised to get the Khasra No of the purchased land. He said usually audit is held after completion of the schemes but here the schemes are being audited even before its launching.
He said that the committee member did not listen to him, adding if it continued he would not come again in the meeting of the Standing Committee.
Member Committee Ghulam Sarwar Khan on the occasion alleged that the ministry was not implementing its own rules and regulations due to which the projects are delayed.
The Committee met under the Chairmanship of Haji Muhammad Akram Ansari, MNA in Islamabad this morning.
The Standing Committee on Housing and Works has directed Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) to ensure compliance of decision of the Federal Cabinet regarding Joint Venture policy for land banking in collaboration with private sector and concerns raised by the members of the Standing Committee on Housing and Works before initiation of development work on Thallian Interchange Joint Venture Housing Project.
The Committee was briefed about Thallian Interchange Joint Venture Housing Project in light of the observations of the Committee expressed in its previous meeting.
The Director General, FGEHF apprised the Committee about the contents of the Summary submitted to the Federal Cabinet in year 2016 and the approval of the Cabinet, criteria for selection/pre-qualification of the companies, the detail of the participating companies and the Company finally selected for the Joint Venture Project. He also presented the documents of the land offered along with the detail of water availability and access to the project.
He further informed that there was no irregularity committed in the project and the capability of Joint Venture Partner was thoroughly assessed before entering into agreement with him.
He further informed that the issue was also under consideration of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and the findings of the audit ordered by the PAC would be shared with this august Committee.
The Members of the Committee expressed their concern about the capacity of the Joint Venture Partner to carry out the project in terms of availability of land with clear title and other amenities. The Committee directed FGEHF to ensure compliance of decision of the Federal Cabinet and concerns of the members of the Standing Committee on Housing and Works before initiation of development work on Thallian Interchange Joint Venture Housing Project.
The Committee appreciated the efforts of Director Coordination, Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHAF) and Director General, Quetta Development Authority for getting the encroached land of Kuchlak Project, vacated. The Committee directed the Managing Director, PHAF to ensure deployment of security guards on the site of the project to avoid its reoccurrence.
The meeting was attended by MNAs; Rana Zahid Hussain Khan, Sahibzada Faiz-ul-Hassan, Nawabzada Mazher Ali, Mr. Nasir Iqbal Bosal, Ms Tahira Aurangzeb, Ms. Khalida Mansoor, Ms Nighat Parveen Mir, Mrs. Shahida Rehmani, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Mr. Iqbal Muhammad Ali Khan, Secretary M/o Housing and Works and other officers of the concerned departments.
INP