ISLAMABAD - Construction work on the Rs 1.3 billion Convention and Cultural Complex at Shakarparian has been halted for the last four months due to the unavailability of required funds. A source within the Capital Development Authority (CDA) conferred upon TheNation on Tuesday that the Authority had allocated Rs 150 million for the Complex during the ongoing fiscal year. However, he said later the funds were re-appropriated and provided to some other projects. The source disclosed that due to the apparent financial crunch at the civic agency, a priority list had been prepared to provide funds to the much-needed projects on priority basis. Therefore, he said some projects, including the Shakarparian Complex were put on halt. CDAs Member (Finance) Saeed-ur-Rehman, however, denied existence of any such priority list and said that funds were being timely provided to each and every project. The Project Director Shakarparian Complex, Farhat Ali Shah Binori, when contacted confirmed that the project remained on halt for the last few months due to the re-appropriation of funds. He, however, said that last week the Finance Directorate of the Authority had given him green signal to resume work on the project. He said that so far the Authority had incurred expenditures amounting to Rs 1,300 million on the project, including the Rs 950 million from the Rs 1500 million allocated during the ongoing fiscal year. Later, he said the work was put on halt due to re-appropriation of the funds. However, he said they have been again provided the same funds and directed to pay the contractors bills. The Complex is spreading over an area of 25 acres and expected to further enhance the entertainment and culture activities in the capital city. Work on the Complex started in early February 2008 and is scheduled to be completed by June 2010. The Complex would have facilities like a 3,500-seated auditorium, an amphitheatre, piazza, conference hall, mosque, restaurants, cinema and gazebo etc. The capacity of the auditorium would be adjustable from only 350 to 3,500 seats, it has been learnt. Though the Complex is mainly aimed at holding mass-scale conventions, yet the same would also provide an opportunity for showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the country, especially the Potohar region. Renowned architect Arif Masood has designed the Complex while a Lahore-based firm 'Builders Associates is executing the project. A senior official of the Authority informed that during the paper work for the project, high officials and board members of the Authority had opposed the project on the grounds that Ministry of Culture should provide funds for the project. However, he said the then Chairman, Kamran Lashari, due to his personnel interest in promoting cultural activities in the city went his way despite opposition.