M FAZAL ELAHI
The target set forth by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for inauguration of the New Islamabad International Airport is August 14, 2017. It is reported that the project is speeding its way to completion and would be ready for launch according to the schedule announced by the PM Nawaz. What, however, is shocking to know that recently the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat which recently met has expressed its concern over the establishment of 36 housing societies in close proximity to the new airport. In view of the foregoing scenario the committee chairman and members it is believed have asked the relevant authorities to submit a detailed report on the status of these housing societies.
All said and done, what one fails to understand is why has the committee chairman and members have come out of their deep slumber now? Most of these societies were launched more than a decade ago with proper NOCs granted by relevant authorities. Many of them have reached the pinnacle of their development work. Thousands of people, including overseas Pakistanis, have invested their hard-earned money in these societies and are anxiously looking forward to build their houses on the plots they have purchased in these societies. It would not only be inappropriate but also unlawful to disband any of these societies at this point in time.
In the backdrop of the facts enunciated above the intent of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat is ostensibly malafide. One expects that the Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat and the members of the committee would rise above self and act sensibly in dealing with this sensitive issue and safeguard the larger interest of the thousands of investors who, as mentioned earlier, have invested their heard-earned money in these projects. The incumbent government should also take immediate cognizance of this critical situation before things go out of hands. If they do not, I am afraid the ill-intent of the committee under reference will stand exposed and the issue will blow out of proportion and become unmanageable for all concerned.
