- SZAMBU construction work started without prior approval of building plan from CDA
ISLAMABAD: The Auditor General of Pakistan, in its report, has detected an irregularities in the construction of the School of Dentistry at the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University/Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), resulting in the imposition of a fine/penalty of Rs 6.903 million.
The report also identified that the management of the medical university (SZAMBU) awarded a work of constructing School of Dentistry at the PIMS to M/s Capital Builders at a contract cost of Rs 518.966 million with a completion period of 24 months from the date of start (Aug 29, 2016).
However, the audit observed that the SZAMBU project director started construction of the basement, ground and five-story building for the establishment of the dentistry school without the prior approval of the building plan from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) as required under the Islamabad Residential Sectors Zoning (Building Control) Regulations, 2005.
This resulted in the irregular construction of the building for Rs 518.966 million. The audit maintains that no building or structure shall be constructed or any additional/alteration made thereon except (a) with the prior approval of the authority, and (b) minor internal repairs; in accordance with the building and zoning regulations, or instructions issued by the authority in this regard from time to time, according to the regulations.
The audit pointed out the irregularity in September 2017 and observed that as per the regulation 2.2.3, any construction started/carried out without prior approval of the authority shall be liable to be removed (partly or wholly) at the risk and cost of the owner and or fine as prescribed in the schedules/annexure.
Further, irregular construction started without the prior approval of building from CDA will result in payment of a fine of Rs 6.903 million as prescribed in the schedule-B to the building control regulations of 1993. The management replied that during the designing phase of the building, it was communicated by the SZAMBU works director that CDA approval was not required for the construction inside PIMS premises.
The reply was not tenable because it was pre-requisite to obtain approval from the civic agency. The matter was discussed in the departmental accounts committee’s meeting held in December 2017 wherein the body directed the university management that case may be pursued actively with CDA regarding approval of the building plan. The audit recommended early compliance to the committee’s directive; however, compliance to the directive was not made till finalisation of this report.
