ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday that all systems should be up and ready of Kohsar Block by end of May as per the latest timeline.

According to a statement, the Finance Minister was chairing a meeting in Islamabad to discuss matters regarding operational completion of Kohsar Block of New Pak. Secretariat project and subsequent allocation of office space to different ministries and departments.

The Secretary Housing and Works and DG Public Works Department (PWD) briefed the Finance Minister on the progress of the project and informed that construction work had been substantially completed and efforts were afoot to finish the remaining work related to Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and installation of lifts by May 2017.

The meeting was also briefed on various aspects of interior designing and partitioning of space for allocation to different departments.

The meeting was informed that the nine-storey Kohsar Block with ground floor and 2 basements, having covered area of 7,69,200 sqft will be the largest office building in the federal capital.

The Finance Minister emphasized completion of all the works and installation of lifts on priority. He said, “A meeting of the Allotment Committee would be called soon to allocate space to different ministries/departments so that they could plan their activities for shifting to the building accordingly.”

The Minister said, “Kohsar Block would help accommodate scattered government offices, departments under one roof, not only facilitating the general public but also helping to make significant savings under the head of building rent.” The Minister also asked officials concerned in Finance Division and Planning and Development Division to extend maximum facilitation for completion of all necessary works.

Secretary Housing and Works, senior officials of Finance Division, Planning and Development Division, PWD and others attended the meeting.—NNI