ISLAMABAD: The Senate House Committee in a briefing here on Thursday was told that eight new lifts and 19 more surveillance cameras would be installed at the Parliament Lodges soon.
Senate Deputy Chairman Salim Mandviwalla, while chairing the meeting, directed the concerned authorities to float tenders for purchasing more surveillance cameras. The committee was told that one lift would cost Rs10.25 million by Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials.
Briefing the committee, Islamabad Special Branch superintendent police (SP) said that a total of 28 surveillance cameras were working satisfactorily at the Parliament Lodges; however, more cameras were needed to ensure foll proof security.
Responding to a question of chairman Mandviwalla, the SP responded by saying that the recording of cameras remain available for the period of one month. After one month, the recording is auto deleted.
The chairman complained that the committee never received the reports of surveillance cameras functioning or otherwise. The SP assured the committee of regularly sending surveillance camera reports in the future.
The committee endorsed the suggestion of interior ministry official to conduct an audit of fire extinguishers installed at various places of Parliament Lodges. Senator Samina Saeed stressed the need for checking the fire extinguishers installed at the lodges, adding that one never knows whether the extinguishers were working or not.
Regarding the auction of rubble, a CDA official told the committee that a Rs4.9 million bid has been received for the rubble so, it will be removed within the next ten days.
The committee directed to finalise a consensus on the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for establishing shops at the lodges as well.
A subcommittee headed by Senator Yousaf Badini has been constituted for supervising the renovation and maintenance of the lodges.
The committee has been mandated to submit a comprehensive report within a next fortnight.
The committee expressed it anguish over the absence of CDA chairman on which an official told the committee that the chairman had gone to Supreme Court (SC).
