Close coordination between ABAD, cantonment boards sought

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Director General of the Military Lands & Cantonments, Major General (R) Furrukh Rashid, has announced that the building bye-laws in the cantonment areas would be amended in the light of suggestions from the Association of Builders & Developers of Pakistan (ABAD) in order to upgrade them technologically.

He made the announcement while talking to a delegation of ABAD, led by its chairman, Junaid Ashraf Taloo, which called on him at his office. The Additional Director General, Military Lands & Cantonments, Amir Rashid also attended the meeting. 

The ABAD delegation included chairman, Junaid Ashraf Taloo, Vice Chairman, Mohammad Hanif Memon, Chairman Southern Region, Mohammad Hassan Bakshi, Ex Senior Vice Chairman, Saleem Kassim Patel, Convener Cantonment Boards Sub-Committee, Arif Siddik, Co Convener, Cantonment Boards Sub-Committee, Haroon Karim and members Rizwan Adhia and Mahmood Tabba. 

DG Furrukh Rashid, while appreciating the role of ABAD in the promotion of construction industry, assured that issues of members of ABAD engaged in construction activities in cantonment areas will be resolved on priority. 

Saleem Kassim Patel gave a detailed briefing on the role of members of ABAD and demanded close coordination between ABAD, the Director’s Office and the offices of Cantonment Boards. 

Arif Siddik highlighted the issues of delays in the approval of projects of some members of ABAD. A detailed appraisal of delayed projects of members of ABAD was also done during the meeting. Speaking on the occasion, 

Junaid Ashraf Taloo suggested that in view of the delay in the approval of projects, the process of approval of projects in the Director’s office be made simple and short. At this point, 

DG Furrukh Rashid informed that he will consult his team in this connection to simplify the process of approval and also fix a time frame for approval of projects. 

Mohammad Hassan Bakshi suggested mandatory membership of ABAD for all builders engaged in construction activities in cantonment areas. Rizwan Adhia proposed one window operation for quick approval of projects of members of ABAD. 

At the end of the meeting, DG Furrukh Rashid said that the office of Director Military Lands & Cantonments was examining the process and policies for delay in the resolution of different issues and these will be resolved soon.

Khawaja Naveed speaks his heart out in Nawabshah

Khurshid Shah to facilitate in resolving construction industry’s problems

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, a former Federal Minister and now the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, urged the government to provide incentives to the construction industry as it played an important role in the economic development of the country.

He made the observation while talking to a delegation of the Association of Builders & Developers of Pakistan (ABAD), led by its chairman, Junaid Ashraf Taloo, which called on him during his recent visit to Karachi. 

Khurshid Shah vowed to raise the issue of gas, electric and water connections on the floor of the house. The Leader of the Opposition promised to extend full cooperation for meeting the demands of ABAD members. 

The ABAD delegation included Vice Chairman, Mohammad Hanif Memon, Regional Chairman, Mohammad Hassan Bakshi, and members, Owais Thanvi, Rizwan Adhia, Arif Jeewa, Fayyaz Ilyas, Mustafa Thanvi, Anwar OK and Sohail Warind.. 

The ABAD Chairman pointed out that Karachi contributed 67% of revenue to the national exchequer and the construction industry was providing employment to a vast majority of people. 

Junaid Ashraf regretted that due to ban on gas connections to high rises and housing societies, the investment of billions of rupees of builders and allottees had been blocked. 

“Although Sindh is producing 70 % natural gas but the right to get gas connection in high rises and housing societies is being denied,” he said. 

The Vice Chairman, Hanif Memon, stated that moratorium on new gas connections was imposed in 2011 for a period of two years apparently to support LNG business. 

The Regional Chairman, Hassan Bakshi, reckoned that if all pending applications for gas connections of all builders of Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur were accommodated, the total requirement of gas will be less than 1 MMCFD. 

On the issues of K-Electric, he said that even under Self Finance Scheme, the builders have to provide a bank guarantee for which they have to deposit 100% cash margin which caused double financial burden on them. He demanded that the bank guarantee should not be more than 10% to 15% of the total amount. He also called for the reduction of tariff for TL connection.