The Senate House Committee has demanded an immediate reform of the Parliament Lodges and established monthly oversight meetings amid growing concerns regarding poor maintenance, administrative inefficiencies, and illegal occupation of lawmaker residences. Chaired by Senator Syedaal Khan, Deputy Chairman of the Senate, the committee urgently called for action to correct ongoing mismanagement and address serious gaps in resident services and facilities.
During the meeting held at Parliament House, senators highlighted multiple issues adversely affecting living conditions at Parliament Lodges. Senator Poonjo Bheel expressed frustration over basic deficiencies, emphasizing that residents faced difficulty even in replacing simple utilities such as electric bulbs due to bureaucratic hurdles. Senator Kamil Ali Agha criticized Capital Development Authority (CDA) officers for disrespectful and unprofessional conduct towards parliamentarians, asserting that such behavior was unacceptable and needed immediate correction.
Furthermore, Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu raised concerns regarding outstanding electricity bills left unpaid by former lodge occupants, urging swift action by the CDA in recovering these dues to prevent service disruptions for current residents. In response, Finance Division officials assured the committee that sufficient budgetary allocations have been provided for maintenance and repair works in the upcoming financial period of 2025–2026. However, the Director CDA (Parliament Lodges) indicated that unresolved financial liabilities from previous years still present significant obstacles to timely repairs and upkeep.
Addressing comprehensive reforms, Minister of State for Interior Senator Talal Chaudhry reassured the committee of the government’s firm resolve. He announced that plans are in progress, under the direct instructions of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and in consultation with the Speaker of the National Assembly, to initiate the immediate construction of 104 new residential suites and substantially refurbish existing facilities.
To reinforce accountability and ensure tangible improvements, the committee committed to holding detailed monthly oversight sessions dedicated to the progress of Parliament Lodges-related issues. Members underscored the necessity of replacing inefficient CDA staff members with more competent and trustworthy officials, as recommended also by the Senate Finance Committee. This step aims to rectify longstanding stagnation and ineffective service delivery by the CDA personnel currently responsible for lodge maintenance.
The committee particularly stressed the issue of illegal occupancy of lodges meant for serving parliamentarians by former lawmakers. Due to limited accommodations for legislators, it urged authorities to promptly evict unauthorized occupants, thus ensuring rightful access for current parliamentarians.
Recognizing the importance of equity and dignity for all parliamentarians, the committee also recommended giving priority attention to accommodations assigned to women senators and representatives. Ensuring prompt and regular maintenance for lodges allocated to female parliamentarians was emphasized as vital for a safe and dignified living atmosphere.
The meeting saw active participation from Senators Jan Muhammad, Kamil Ali Agha, Poonjo Bheel, Khalil Tahir Sandhu, Minister of State for Interior Senator Talal Chaudhry, Special Secretary Interior Waqas Ali Mahmood, along with senior representatives from the Finance and Law Divisions.
