ISLAMABAD: National Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Works on Tuesday expressed serious concern over delays in Lifestyle Residency Apartments and I-12 flats projects and directed the authorities concerned to ensure their timely com-pletion of these projects to safeguard the interests of allottees.
The committee, which met with MNA Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri in the chair, besides other agenda items, discussed the stalled projects of the Ministry of Housing’s subordinate organisations Lifestyle Residency and I-12 flats projects.
Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) through a public-private partnership started construction of the Lifestyle Residency Apartments in 2017 on over15 acres in sectors G-13 and G-14 with July 2020 completion date.
As per initial plan, 3,273 apartments were to be constructed for government employees and pri-vate investor. At the site, a grey structure of apartments were constructed, but work has been lying almost abandoned for the last many years, causing anxiety among hundreds of allottees.
The committee was briefed by the FGEHA on the delayed Lifestyle Residency Apartments Project, G-13.
The ministry said the delay was caused by financial constraints, disputes between the JV partners, contractual and management issues, and subsequent termination of the construction agreement.
Moreover, the substantial escalation in construction costs had adversely affected the project’s financial viability at the originalallottee rates.
Accordingly, FGEHA is exploring a PPP/business model to utilise commercial inventory for financing completion of the residential component while minimising any additional financial burden on existing allottees.
After hearing the grievances of the allottees and stakeholders,the committee chairman expressed seriousconcern overtheprolonged delay in the Lifestyle Residency Apartments Project, G-13, despite payment of the required amounts by the allottees.
He directed the authorities concerned to take immediate measures for resumption and early completion of the project.
The housing secretary informedthe committee that pursuant to the directions of the federalhousing minister, progress had been made towards restarting the project and that the working for a new joint venture agreement is going to be finalised for advertisement shortly.
The committee directed the concerned department to ensure tangible progress without further delay, safeguard the interests of the allottees and ensure early completion and timely handing over of possession.
The committee also directed early completion of I-12 flats project of Pakistan Housing Authority another subsidiary of the housing ministry.
The committee reiterated thatprolonged delays in public housing projects were unacceptable and directed that progress on all projects be regularly reported until their completion.
Meanwhile, the committee also reviewed performance and functionsofthePakistanInfrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL) and was briefed on its institutional restructuring, technical capacity and development activities.
The committee appreciated PIDCL’s initiatives, including SAP/ERP, RAAST-based payments, e-Office, EPADS and GISbased project monitoring, and emphasised transparency, sound financial management and effective project oversight.