ISLAMABAD: Owing to Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Housing and Works has given a six-month extension to allottees of Gulshan-i-Jinnah Complex, Federal Lodges and Hostels including Fatima Jinnah Women Hostel.

Earlier, the ministry had issued eviction notices to allottees, directing them to vacate accommodations by April 30.

However, the ministry faced massive reaction particularly from working women, who are residing in Fatima Jinnah Hostels.

Sources said on Monday, a delegation of allottees held a meeting with Secretary Housing and later on ministry issued a notification, extending the stay of allottees for further six months.

According to a notification issued on April 26 stated: “The competent authority has granted one time extension to those allottees of Gulshan-i-Jinnah Complex and Federal Lodges, Hostels for the next six months due to pandemic in the country, whose allotments is going to expire on 30-04-2021 under Allotment of Semi-Permanent Accommodation in Federal Government Hostels Rules, 2019,” read the notification.

Ministry’s spokesperson Raja Afzal said that all the allotees have been given six months time. He said that ministry’s facilities are meant for temporary accommodation.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the notices issued to women working in different departments to vacate Fatima Jinnah Hostel where they are living and demanded that the notices be immediately withdrawn.

In a statement the secretary general of the Pakistan People’s Party parliamentarians former Senator Farhatullah Babar said the eviction order in the month of Ramazan during pandemic was most insensitive, without precedence and in complete disregard of the vulnerabilities of working women.

The whimsical order is yet another manifestation of how insensitive the present government is to the issues of women.

He said instead of providing working women more accommodation and a congenial atmosphere to work the government is throwing them out of the only accommodation available to them in the federal capital.

Mr Babar asked the Housing Ministry to immediately withdraw the eviction notices adding “Pakistan People’s Party will also raise the issue in the parliament and at all available forums”

If the government cannot improve their lot it should at least not take away from the women whatever little they may have, he said.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2021