ISLAMABAD: A Senate penal while deliberating over issues of illegal sites in sector G-14, of the federal capital stressed the need for cutting off all amenities at these sites to discourage such such activity.
Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works, headed by Senator Haji Hidayat Ullah discussed matters related to Federal Government Employees (FGE) Housing Authority and Land Acquisition Act
The committee was told that a huge chunk of land in the sector has been illegally occupied by mafias. It was claimed that the main reason for allowing amenities to such sites is the political pressure by local MNAs that have been provided SDG funds in order to upgrade living standards of the local populace.
Expressing serious concern, a sub-Committee was formulated to probe the matter in detail, which will be headed by Senator Saifullah Abro.
The meeting was attended by Senator Saifullah Abro, Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Senator Muhammad Qasim, Senator Afnan Ullah Khan and senior officers from the Ministry Housing and Works, Estate Office, Capital Development Authority (CDA) along with all concerned.
The Committee was informed that all legal formalities were complete in this regard and the matter is under consideration with the Executive Board of FGEHA for approval.
Discussing details of the Estate Office’s criteria for allotments and measures being taken to vacate illegally occupied property; it was claimed that accommodations were strictly allocated on the basis of merit.
It was asserted that as per Supreme Court directions relaxation of rules under Rule 29A of the Accommodation Allocation Rules, 2002 will not often be exercised, except in the case of hardship.
The Committee was informed that 2800 illegally occupied properties have been vacated so far. The Committee recommended that the Department must look into developing high rises as opposed to single and double unit houses in order to maintain overload effectively.
Reviewing details of ongoing NCL projects the Committee was informed that currently NCL is mainly engaged with projects related to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in Islamabad, Chashma and Gilgit. Seven in number, the total value of these projects amounts to PKR 1821.00 million.
It was revealed that currently NCL, due to numerous factors is bearing accumulated losses worth crores of rupees. In light of decisions taken by Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC) and the Ministry of Housing and Works regarding NCL’s Acquisition and merger with the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA).
