ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs on Monday was apprised that the Aviation Division had no plans to sell the Rossevelt Hotel in New York, USA.
The Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs met with Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal in the chair and discussed the proposed agenda.
Briefing the NA panel, the acting chairman of Pakistan International Airline (PIA) said that the Roosevelt Hotel generated a total of $96.45 million and during 2016 its profit remained at $1.54 million. He further informed that experts/professionals have given the proposal to give Roosevelt Hotel on lease for the period of 30 to 40 years to earn more profit.
The committee showed annoyance over the proposal and strongly recommended that the hotel should not be given on lease at any cost.
The committee also decided to invite PIA CEO to brief the committee about the suspension of flights to New York.
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs secretary briefed the committee regarding the comprehensive implementation status of the previous recommendations of the committee. He informed that the ministry had made compliance on the directions of the committee, and also sent letters to the department concerned for implementation on the direction of the committee.
The committee further considered The Elections (Amendment) Act, 2017 moved by MNA Naeema Kishwer Khan. After detailed deliberation on the bill, the committee directed the ministry to provide more details in the next meeting.
Parliamentary Affairs secretary also briefed the committee about the status of encashment of PIA tickets to the parliamentarians. After discussion, the committee directed that Rs300,000, without any deduction, should be given to the parliamentarians instead of vouchers, and also recommended that the number of tickets should be increased from 20 to 30.
Ministry of Housing and Works joint secretary briefed the committee on the budget and maintenance of government rest houses. He informed that at present, the ministry was not maintaining any rest house.
He also provided detail of lodges, hostel and family suites which were under the Ministry of Housing and Works.
The committee further directed the ministry to provide detail of officers residing in lodges, hostel and family suites in Islamabad in the next meeting.
MNAs Malik Ihtebar Khan, Dr Nisar Ahmad Jatt, Mian Tariq Mehmood, Ch Salman Haneef Khan, Arifa Khalid Parvez, Dr Shazia Sobia, Nafeesa Inayatullah Khan Khattak and Naeema Kishwer Khan attended the meeting. The meeting was also attended by senior officers of the ministries of Parliamentary Affairs, Law and Justice, Housing and Works, Election Commission of Pakistan and PIA.
