KARACHI, Dec 14: Foundation stone of the new building of the Sindh Assembly will be laid next month and the project is likely to be completed by the end of next year. The new structure is being raised in the backyard of the existing historic assembly building at an estimated cost of over Rs600 million.

This was stated by Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah while addressing a press conference on Thursday at the assembly building. Senior Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad, Irrigation Minister Sadar Nadir Akmal Leghari, Law Minister Iftikhar Ahmed Chaudhry, ACS (P&D) Ghulam Sarwar Khero, Secretary Works Faisal Saood and representatives of the project’s Architect M/s Naqvi and Siddiqui Associates, were present at the press conference.

The new structure has been design to be built in a manner that it will match the existing building’s architecture. The design had been selected from among the entries of a competition organised by a committee, headed by Syed Sardar Ahmad. A presentation had also been given to Chief Minister Dr Arbab Rahim, who approved the design with minor amendments.

The new building would have a capacity for 350 members and provision for further expansion.

Speaker Mr Shah pointed out that the present building was built in 1942. In view of the increased strength of members, its seating capacity had later been increased to accommodate 168 members, the present strength.

He said the new building would be a state-of-the-art project comprising ground plus three floors, besides the hall, with one chambers each for the leader of the house and the leader of the opposition, rooms for ministers, an auditorium with a capacity of 350 audience, a library, a mosque and a cafeteria.

He said the existing building would be linked with the new one through two corridors and would be preserved as a heritage building as the historic Pakistan Resolution was passed in the same building. Moreover, the declaration of independence was made and the flag of Pakistan was unfurled for the first time in Sindh at the same place, he added.

Syed Sardar Ahmad told newsmen that the bank and government dispensary located next to the assembly building would be moved elsewhere. He said the two buildings adjacent to the entrance of the existing building were also the provincial government property. He said the servant quarters housing government employees would also be incorporated.

During the press conference, financial proposals pertaining to the estimated construction cost submitted by three pre-qualified firms out of seven participants were opened.