18 January 2004	Sunday	25 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 17: Federal Housing and Works minister has withdrawn a disputed notification pertaining to increase in various fees, ranging from 100 per cent to 1,000 per cent.

This was stated by PECHS Honorary Secretary Muhammad Hamid Ali Khan while speaking at a press conference on Saturday. Vice-chairman of the society, Capt Warisun Nabi Awan also spoke on the occasion.

Mr Khan said that Federal Housing Minister Syed Safwanullah and Parliamentary Secretary Shamim Siddiqui played a pivotal role in the withdrawal of this notification, which was irritating society members.

He alleged that the bureaucracy had unilaterally issued the notification, making it impossible for society members to pay such high fees.

He further alleged that the Housing ministry was raising various objections, creating problems for PECHS residents.

He pointed out that the said notification was issued in September, 2002 and the society had filed a petition in the court against it.

"Now we have withdrawn this petition as the Housing ministry had withdrawn the said notification and issued an office order to facilitate the day-to-day matters of the society," he added.

Mr Khan said that several problems of the PECHS, as well as those of 26 other societies in the city had been resolved.-APP