The renovation of the National Assembly Hall costing Rs.700 million has some senators wondering why historic furniture is being replaced with cheap imitations, and also whether strategic timing of the remodelling is meant to delay the opposition's no-confidence move.
“Why are you replacing wood with chipboard, leather seats with rexine and carpeted floors with third-class tiles,” questioned Pakistan Muslim League-N's (PML-N) Khawaja Asif who added that the NA was being 'deprived of its cultural heritage' when historical furniture and items should have been preserved rather than simply replaced.
The Public Accounts Committee heard on Thursday that the renovations in preparation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit meeting to be held on March 22 would cost a whopping Rs.700 million, it was reported in the Tribune.
In response, PML-N MNA Mushahid Hussain Sayed bluntly asked, "Is the renovation work being carried out for the conference or to halt [the opposition's] no-confidence motion.”
MNA Arif further lamented that historical furniture was being replaced with shoddy, artificial materials. Other committee members highlighted that the cultural and historical value of government buildings should be preserved, and noted that at the House of Commons in England, special care was taken to maintain historical furniture, decorative arts, and the building itself.
“Parliamentarians come and go but the [National Assembly] building is a symbol of democracy,” Science and Technology Minister Shibli Faraz said, adding that there should be a register identifying invaluable items with historic significance.
The Parliament House was inaugurated in 1986 and designed by American architect Edward Durell Stone. The National Assembly Hall is 130 feet and has seating capacity for 448 parliamentarians, with seating graduating in tiers.
“Why are you replacing wood with chipboard, leather seats with rexine and carpeted floors with third-class tiles,” questioned Pakistan Muslim League-N's (PML-N) Khawaja Asif who added that the NA was being 'deprived of its cultural heritage' when historical furniture and items should have been preserved rather than simply replaced.
The Public Accounts Committee heard on Thursday that the renovations in preparation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit meeting to be held on March 22 would cost a whopping Rs.700 million, it was reported in the Tribune.
In response, PML-N MNA Mushahid Hussain Sayed bluntly asked, "Is the renovation work being carried out for the conference or to halt [the opposition's] no-confidence motion.”
MNA Arif further lamented that historical furniture was being replaced with shoddy, artificial materials. Other committee members highlighted that the cultural and historical value of government buildings should be preserved, and noted that at the House of Commons in England, special care was taken to maintain historical furniture, decorative arts, and the building itself.
“Parliamentarians come and go but the [National Assembly] building is a symbol of democracy,” Science and Technology Minister Shibli Faraz said, adding that there should be a register identifying invaluable items with historic significance.
The Parliament House was inaugurated in 1986 and designed by American architect Edward Durell Stone. The National Assembly Hall is 130 feet and has seating capacity for 448 parliamentarians, with seating graduating in tiers.