Saturday 17 August 2013

Rs1.23b spent in 7 years, Punjab assembly new bldg. still incomplete


LAHORE: Despite having spent a whopping amount of Rs1.23 billion in seven long years, Punjab assembly new building still remains incomplete, while no fund has been provided in the new financial year budget, Geo News reported Saturday. The concerned department sources said that initially the cost of the additional Punjab assembly building was estimated at Rs780 million, but even before the work started the estimate was upwardly revised at Rs80 billion and after some time this estimate shot up to Rs1.32 billion, which again for the fourth time revised upward to whopping Rs1.70 billion. The project, which could have been completed within one year, only 58 percent work has been carried out in seven long years, sources said. Sources said that for lack of decision on change of design relating to the roof and dome besides paucity of funds causing inordinate delay in completion of this project. This project could now be completed in one and a half year if funds made available. Assembly secretariat said that funds would definitely be obtained this year from the Punjab government.