May 10, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 22, 1428

ISLAMABAD, May 9: Federal minister for housing and works Syed Safwanullah has said the Estate Office has been purged of corrupt elements in order to streamline the allotment process of official accommodation for government employees.

Talking to mediapersons at the ministry on Tuesday, he confessed there were excessive allegations against the officials of housing ministry, especially the Estate Office. He also admitted that underhand deals might have been struck, bribes and commissions used for allotment of houses, but denied there had been even a single proof to this effect. “Accusations are made but nobody has ever come forward with a solid evidence,” he said. “If they bring us proof against any official, we will take action,” the minister said.

He said keeping in view these excessive complaints, four estate officers were transferred during the last four years when he took over the ministry. Besides, his personal secretary and some other officers

were also transferred for this reason.

To a question about illegal occupation of government houses by the Islamabad police, he said the issue had been raised in the National Assembly and also discussed with high police officials but nothing could be done to dislodge them. He said some had got stay from courts. However, talks continued with the authorities concerned and the issue would be resolved, he added.

The minister said new schemes would be launched in order to solve the housing problem in the capital. He said there were about 386,000 employees in the federal capital but the number of available quarters/flats was only about 22,000. “What can we do in view of such a big gap.” There are requests and pressures from different people and the ministry has to handle it, he said.

He said when the CDA opened new sectors, land would be purchased for constructing more houses/quarters for government employees.

He said for the last 14 years, the CDA had not developed any new sector, as a result the shortage of houses had increased manifold.

About out-of-turn allotments, he said two meetings had been held but no decision had been taken in this regard. There is one or two houses available on the out-of-turn quota but the number of applicants runs into hundreds, he said.