The Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control on Monday scrutinised the Capital Development Authority (CDA) over the implementation of fire safety regulations and directed it to submit comprehensive fire safety audit reports for public buildings including the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) and other hospitals in Islamabad. The committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman at the Parliament House to deliberate on issues relating to law enforcement, public safety and civic infrastructure in the federal capital.
The committee was informed that the last fire safety audit of PIMS was conducted in December 2025. The committee directed the relevant authorities to submit comprehensive fire safety audit reports for public buildings across Islamabad. Senator Abid Sher Ali raised the issue of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for official passports of parliamentarians by the Ministry of Interior, asking about the specific legal provisions governing such requirements. In response, the director general (DG) Passports clarified that no such restriction existed under the current law and assured the committee that a detailed report on passport categorisation would be submitted on a priority basis. Regarding tampered and non-customs-paid vehicles, the committee directed that the agenda item relating to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) be taken up at its next meeting.
Senator Abdul Shakoor raised a query regarding the alleged illegal allotment of a plot in Sector I-10/4. The CDA informed the committee that an in-office investigation was underway, while the matter had also been referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and was currently subjudice. The committee directed the FIA to submit its report at the next meeting. On matters of public safety and law enforcement, the committee sought updates on several high-profile cases including a report from the DIG Larkana regarding the Mahnoor abduction case. Addressing the capital's water shortage, the CDA briefed the committee on the existing demand-and-supply gap, highlighting plans to expand water conveyance capacity and pursue long-term initiatives including drawing water from Tarbela Dam.
On urban planning policies, Senator Quratulain Marri highlighted the need for daycare facilities in commercial and residential areas, saying they had become a basic necessity rather than a luxury for working women. The committee chairman directed the CDA to submit a detailed report on the establishment of daycare centres. Regarding the daycare bill passed in 2022, the committee directed the Ministry of Interior and the CDA secretary to ensure its immediate implementation. The committee also examined the paid parking policy and was informed about the revenue generation mechanisms currently in place across the federal capital.