ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has sought an independent third-party forensic audit of the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) Legal Facilitation Centre project, citing concerns over escalating costs, excess quantities and financial transparency.
The request follows continued criticism over the construction of the main Islamabad High Court building, a project worth more than Rs11 billion that faced allegations of poor workmanship, including malfunctioning elevators, an ineffective cooling system and other structural deficiencies.
According to official documents and a contempt application filed before the Islamabad High Court, the CDA has raised serious reservations regarding the execution of the Legal Facilitation Centre being built on Constitution Avenue.
The authority has requested the court to appoint an independent technical auditor, preferably the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK), to conduct a forensic assessment of the completed work, verify measurements and examine claims relating to excess quantities before any further payments are made.
The project was originally assigned to the Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD) but was transferred to the CDA following a federal cabinet decision in August 2024.
Initially approved at a cost of Rs1.446 billion, the project’s estimated cost has now increased to more than Rs2.07 billion after various revisions and approvals.
The CDA has expressed concern over excess quantity claims worth approximately Rs492 million, noting that the contractor has already submitted a running bill of Rs313 million despite the absence of formal approval for the additional work.
Official documents indicate similarities with issues encountered during the construction of the main IHC building, where project management and financial oversight also came under scrutiny.
According to an Auditor-General of Pakistan report, the cost of the main court building increased significantly, with nearly Rs1 billion reportedly paid without a properly maintained measurement book, while the revised building plan was never formally approved by the CDA.
Sources further claim that the contractor executing the Legal Facilitation Centre project had previously faced scrutiny over alleged irregularities in its credentials and has now exceeded the original bill of quantities, raising fresh concerns about transparency and financial accountability.
In its submission before the court, the CDA stated that certain actions of both the contractor and the Pakistan Public Works Department—particularly regarding excess quantities and pending approvals—have created doubts that require independent and impartial verification before additional financial commitments are made.
With the revised project cost now exceeding Rs2 billion and completion rescheduled for December 2026, the CDA has urged the Islamabad High Court to intervene, saying an independent audit is necessary to protect public funds and avoid future legal disputes.
The matter is expected to be taken up by the court, where the findings of an independent audit could determine whether further irregularities occurred during the execution of the public project.
