ISLAMABAD: National Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill for abolition of all discretionary quota in housing schemes in the public sector.

“The Abolition of Discretionary Quotas in Housing Schemes Bill 2011” was moved to the House by opposition MNA Zahid Hamid, belonging to Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N), which was not opposed by the government and was passed unanimously.

Hamid informed the House that it was aimed at stopping the designated authority to allot plots in public schemes on his discretion and out of merit.

“Unfortunately the plot culture, over the time, was plaguing the society and it had become imperative to abolish the discretionary quota,” he said and added, allotment through discretionary quota was simply meant to provide benefit to blue eyed people.

He also mentioned a Supreme Court decision on the issue and claimed that despite this decision the practice was in vogue for certain time period and number of cases had surfaced before the Public Accounts Committee of this House.

However, Zahid explained that some exemptions have been recorded in the bill to benefit widows, heirs of martyrs and those employees who suffer disabilities during service.

Zahid Hamid appreciated the support of the Committee and the Housing Ministry and expected that provincial government will also enact such legislation as Punjab government has already done it.