Syed Tahir Shahbaz, Federal Ombudsman chairing a meeting with Chairman of CDA, Mayor of Islamabad, Managing Director PHA and Chairman Housing Foundation on the progress of housing projects and provision of basic amenities in Islamabad

Islamabad, the 18th December, 2019

PRESS RELEASE

  • OMBUDSMAN DIRECTS TO REMOVE WATER SHORTAGE IN ISLAMABAD.
  • OMBUDSMAN CONSTITUTED COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE THE MAINTENANCE WORK OF F-9 PARK.
  • MAYOR ISLAMABAD SHOULD RESOLVE WATER ISSUES WITH KP AND PUNJAB GOVERNMENT S FOR PROVISION OF WATER FROM KHANPUR DAM.
  • OMBUDSMAN DIRECTS PHA & HOUSING FOUNDATION TO COMPLETE INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN GIVEN TIME.

The Federal Ombudsman, Syed Tahir Shahbaz has shown great concern over shortage of water in Islamabad and directed the Mayor Islamabad to remove leakage in the main lines by the end of March, 2019.  He lauds the performance of Chairman CDA Mr. Amir Ali Ahmed in the resolution of longstanding implementation cases and streamlining other issues of development in Islamabad.  He was chairing a high level meeting of CDA, PHA, Housing Foundation and Ministry of Housing & Works, which was attended by the  Chairman CDA Mr. Amir Ahmed Ali, Mayor Islamabad Sheikh Ansar Aziz, Secretary Ministry of Housing & Works, MD PHA and Chairman Housing Foundation attended the meeting.  The Ombudsman showed concern over poor maintenance of parks and directed to maintain parks in Islamabad upto specified standards.  He also constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Ijaz Ahmed Qureshi Senior Adviser WMS to oversee the maintenance work of F-9 Park.   He said that there were number of complaints lodged by the residents of Islamabad. The Ombudsman Secretariat had issued number of decisions in favour of complainants which need implementation but delay was happening due to sever lack of coordination among PHA, PHF and CDA.  He also directed PHA and Housing Foundation not to levy late charges where completions of projects are due to their own slackness.

            Syed Tahir Shahbaz, the Federal Ombudsman earlier had given a three month’s time to these three agencies i.e. CDA, PHA & Housing Foundation for improvement of basic infrastructure in the ongoing housing projects. The Chairman CDA informed that out of 225 pending cases of implementation, 165 cases have been resolved and 160 are pending which would be implemented by the end of January, 2020.  He informed that 30 cases are pending for decision with the CDA board which would be cleared by March, 2020.  He informed that 50% affectees of lands would be paid their compensation within 03 months and remaining would also be paid in the next year. He also informed that 80% possessions to allottees of Park Enclave have been given. He also informed that development work in Park Enclave-II, E-12 and E-15 are being completed on fast track.

The Mayor Islamabad Sheikh Ansar Aziz informed that 25% water is wasted due to sever leakage in the main pipelines, especially from the Simlly Dam pipeline.  He also informed that all tube wells have been activated to eliminate the shortage of water.  He informed that fine of Rs.5000 is being imposed on wastage of water.  He further informed that due to severe shortage of funds, most of the maintenance work is in doldrums.  Mayor Islamabad said that poor maintenance of parks is due to shortage of funds and lack of good machinery.  The Ombudsman showed concern over the poor maintenance of F-9 park, hence constituted a high level committee under the chairmanship of Senior Adviser Ijaz Ahmed Qureshi to oversee the maintenance of F-9 Park.

The Secretary Housing & Works Dr. Imran Zeb Khan informed that the provision of infrastructure in the housing sectors of PHA and Housing Foundation is ensured on fast track.  The MD, PHA informed that in Kury road project, out of 519 plots out 568 have been handed over  their allottees.  He said that most of the delayed projects of PHA would be completed by the end of June, 2020.  He said cost of each project has risen but these are meted out from commercial projects and are not being charged from the residential allottees.  The CEO of Housing Foundation Waseem Bajwa informed that most of the development work in G-14 has been completed, however, in one sector the possession of land is being ensured on fast track and all the allottees would be given the possession of their plots, shortly.  All the three agencies would submit their progress report in the month of March.