October 10, 2007	Wednesday	Ramazan 27, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the ministries of housing and finance to finalise the proposal regarding increase in rental ceiling being paid to the federal government employees and make them reasonable so that employees could live in a honourable way.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi and Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan issued the directive while hearing an appeal filed by Saima Ejaz.

Secretary housing informed the bench that the ministry was planning to revise the policy. About the maintenance of the houses, he said this facility had been stopped for privately-rented houses.

An additional secretary of the finance ministry told the court that a proposal about increase in rental amount was pending with the ministry and its financial impact was being ascertained.

The chief justice observed that the house rent being given to government employees was less compared to prices in the market.

The bench directed both the ministries to formulate a system acceptable to both the federal and provincial governments within four weeks and adjourned the case till November 12.—APP