CDA seeks third-party forensic audit of IHC Legal Facilitation Centre project

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is demanding a thorough, third-party forensic audit of the multi-billion-rupee project to construct the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Legal Facilitation Centre. This call for scrutiny arises from ongoing issues and costly flaws that have plagued the main IHC building, a project that already exceeded Rs11 billion and faced severe criticism for its faulty elevators, inefficient cooling system, and overall substandard work.

Official documents and a contempt application filed with the IHC reveal serious concerns about the execution of the Legal Facilitation Centre project on Constitution Avenue. The CDA's recent application seeks the appointment of an independent technical auditor, ideally the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK), to meticulously verify the work completed, its measurements, and any claimed excess quantities. The project, initially managed by the Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD), was transferred to the CDA in August 2024 following a federal cabinet decision.

The original cost for the facilitation center was Rs1.446 billion, but this figure has since escalated to over Rs2.07 billion due to approved variations. The CDA has flagged concerns about the pending formal approval of excess quantity statements, totaling Rs492 million, despite the contractor having already submitted a running bill of Rs313 million. This situation mirrors the problems encountered with the main IHC building, where an Auditor-General of Pakistan report indicated cost increases to Rs5 billion, with Rs1 billion paid without proper measurement documentation and a revised building plan that was never approved by the CDA.

Sources suggest the contractor for the facilitation center, which has previously faced scrutiny over questionable credentials, has exceeded the original bill of quantities. This raises significant questions about transparency and financial accountability. The CDA has appealed to the court, stating that "certain actions of the contractor as well as the Pak PWD, particularly in relation to excess quantities and pending approvals, have given rise to doubts requiring independent and impartial verification before any further financial commitments are undertaken."

With the total cost of the facilitation center project now surpassing Rs2 billion and a revised completion date set for December 2026, the CDA is seeking judicial intervention. The aim is to protect public funds and prevent future legal disputes, as the court's involvement could potentially uncover further "malfeasance in public works."

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certain actions of the contractor as well as the Pak PWD, particularly in relation to excess quantities and pending approvals, have given rise to doubts requiring independent and impartial verification before any further financial commitments are undertaken