ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Rules of Procedures and Privileges on Wednesday gave the Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) a month to implement the Senate’s recommendations for the National Agriculture Research Cooperation’s (NARC) land, where the government has reportedly been trying to develop a housing scheme.

The committee met at Parliament Lodges to discuss the NARC issue and a privilege motion in detail.

A privilege motion was moved by Senator Syed Muzafar Hussain Shah, chairman of the Committee on National Food Security and Research, regarding the breach of privilege committed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman by not implementing the committee’s recommendations on the proposed conversation of 1,400 of NARC land by the CDA into residential and commercial plots.

Mr Shah’s committee had directed the CDA to withdraw the cancellation of the NARC’s lease, but the CDA has so far not implemented the directive.

The committee’s report was also adopted by Senate, so the matter stood as a breach of privilege of the committee and the house.

In January, the committee directed the CDA – a subsidiary of CADD – to submit a reply on whether a summary for the cancellation of the lease agreement of land given to the NARC will be withdrawn.

During the course of Wednesday’s meeting, CADD Secretary Nargis Ghaloo told the committee that CDA/CADD have already moved a summary to cabinet for a decision.

She sought a month to implement the committee’s recommendations, which the committee unanimously approved.

The committee also discussed the privilege motion moved by Senator Farhatullah Babar against the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for giving Senate and incorrect reply when asked about the stoppage of employees’ salaries, education qualifications and so on.

The civil aviation secretary told the committee an inquiry is being conducted by the CAA against the official, or officials, who had submitted incorrect information, after which the committee disposed of the issue.

After a positive response from the planning commission secretary, the committee also disposed of the matter of officials who did not provide Senator Sardar Mohammad Azam Khan with required information.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2017