ISLAMABAD: Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada has directed the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) to speed up development work on Park Road Housing Scheme.

The scheme is a joint project of FGEHA and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). The minster chaired a meeting to get an update on the project on Thursday.

Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, SCBA President and Secretary Shahzad Shaukat and Syed Ali Imran and others attended the meeting.

According to a press release, FGERHA director general retired Capt Mohammad Zafar Iqbal briefed the meeting on the project’s infrastructural development.

Mr Tarar and Ahsan Bhoon informed the housing minister and the secretary housing about the concerns and issues of lawyers and SCBA related to the project and demanded to speed up the pace of work.

The interior minister pledged full support on security matters in the project and emphasised its early completion. The housing minister said he was not only aware of the issues but also committed to ensuring the completion of the project on time.

Recently, FGEHA detected a massive financial embezzlement in the scheme allegedly due to forged payments against work never carried out.

According to sources, the contractor in connivance with the project director and others allegedly withdrew the mobilisation advance of Rs719 million on a fake bank guarantee while there was also a big question mark on the interim payment certificates, also known as running bills.

Besides, huge variations in quantities and incorporation of extra contractual (non-bill of quantities) were also detected.

The issue was discussed last month in a meeting of the FGEHA executive board which was presided over by Secretary Housing Dr Shahzad Khan Bangash. The board showed its concerns over the alleged fraud and fake payments and directed a full-fledged inquiry to fix responsibility. Following the board orders, an inquiry committee has been formed.

The scheme is being developed near Comsats University on Park Road in revenue estates Tamma and Mariyan. There are a total of 4,781 plots, out of which 2,088 are for the FGEHA and 2,693 for the SCBA members. The scheme was initiated in pursuance of two orders of the Supreme Court issued in April 2015.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2024