Parliament House cafeteria project hits snag

ISLAMABAD: Ahead of the National Assembly elections to be held on February 8, the project to refurbish the two cafeterias of the Parliament House and equip them with modern facilities to welcome new guests has been stalled due to non-availability of funds.

According to sources, this renovation will cost Rs82 million. The CDA administration had sent a summary to the Ministry of Interior to issue a supplementary grant for these expenses, but the ministry refused.

It sent a letter to the CDA chairman which clarified that the Finance Division had banned the release of additional funds and technical supplementary grants for the current financial year, so the CDA should use the approved funds effectively and not ask for additional funds.

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani had instructed the CDA chairman to decorate the two cafeterias of the Parliament House so that the new members of the National Assembly can enjoy modern cafeterias.

Initial work on the project was started but later CDA officials refused to work until the funds were available. There is a cafeteria in the Parliament House for Members of Parliament and another for the staff of the Parliament House. An interior designer consultant has developed a new design.

The CDA administration has informed the Senate Secretariat and the National Assembly Secretariat about the response of the ministry.