The Sub-Committee meeting of the Senate House Committee, convened by Senator Nasir Mehmood, was held today at Parliament House, where officials reviewed the stalled 104 Lodges initiative, its tendering process, budget allocations, contractor details, and the causes of delay, signaling mounting fiscal burdens for the government.

The panel reviewed how the venture, launched in 2009, was slated for a two-year delivery but faced land clearance hurdles through 2011 and ultimately extended well beyond 2014 after the contract was terminated following repeated notices and unsuccessful price escalations, with arbitration and court proceedings adding heavy financial strains.

The CDA reported that reissued tenders could not attract new bidders due to ongoing disputes, and the project has since been divided into smaller packages and restarted under fresh arrangements, even as a sizable price differential has emerged since inception. The chairman pledged that every effort would be made to complete the initiative within the current financial year.

On the repair and maintenance front, the committee examined spending, quality, and execution barriers. The CDA noted that liabilities amounting to Rs. 740 million remain unsettled, and no new undertakings can proceed until these obligations are cleared. Routine maintenance, such as cleaning, contract terminations, and CCTV installations continues, while suite repairs alone total roughly Rs. 200 million.

Convener Nasir Mehmood voiced sharp concern over unresolved matters despite two years of overdue repairs, insisting that all liabilities be settled first and demanding transparency on how funds are allocated and utilized, with expenditure itemized separately from salaries and other fixed costs. He also warned that financial delays must not push essential works into the next fiscal year.

The session was attended by Senators Danesh Kumar, Hidayatullah Khan, and Poonjo Bheel (online), along with the Chairman of the CDA, representatives from the Ministries of Interior, Finance, and Planning and Development, and senior officials from the involved departments.