ISLAMABAD: The Federal Government Employees Housing Authority’s (FGEHA) executive board was informed on Tuesday that the authority regained possession of the stalled EHFPRO Lifestyle Residency project from private partners last week, but it was facing litigation.

The executive board, which met with Housing Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada in the chair, discussed the project in detail. FGEHA Director General retired Capt Mohammad Zafar Iqbal informed the board that after getting relief from the court, the FGEHA would execute the project.

The board appreciated the FGEHA DG and its legal team for getting possession of the stalled project and pursuing the case vigorously in court.

The board directed the authority to take every possible step to get the stay vacated and complete the remaining work on the project.

The mega residential project has stalled since 2021, causing anxiety among hundreds of allottees. The construction started in 2017 with a completion date of July 2020.

FGEHA through an official letter informed the board that in compliance with the executive board’s decision made during the 38th meeting, the director of special initiatives FGEHA in coordination with ICT police and deputy commissioner carried out the retrieval in the presence of the assistant commissioner Saddar, Islamabad, along with magistrate and officials from the Sumbal police station.

The board was told that possession was peacefully retrieved and FGEHA lawfully took over the site.

On the next day, on March 3, the joint venture partners filed a new civil suit before Civil Judge West Islamabad Malik Imran, seeking injunctive relief against FGEHA regarding possession of its site office.

Consequently, the board was told that through an order dated March 3, the court had granted an interim injunction, restraining FGEHA from dispossessing the plaintiff from the suit premises.

Subsequently, the plaintiff filed another application the next day alleging a violation of the injunctive order, prompting the court to appoint a bailiff to inspect the suit premises and submit a report.

Consequently, court bailiffs visited the site and attempted to compel FGEHA staff at the site to hand over possession to the plaintiff.

However, this was met with resistance from FGEHA staff and its legal representatives, it said.

“FGEHA, being aggrieved by aforesaid orders, filed an application on

March 5, 2025, seeking recall, modification, or setting aside the said orders. Consequently, the civil court restrained the bailiffs from further visiting the site. Now, the case is fixed for March 15, 2025, for further proceedings,” the meeting was told.

FGEHA through a public-private partnership started construction of the said project in 2017 on over 15 acres in G-13 and G-14.

As per the initial plan, 3,273 apartments were to be constructed for government employees and private investors.

At the site, a grey structure of apartments was constructed. Tuesday’s meeting also discussed joint venture regulations, digitisation issues and stalled Sky Garden Project.

An official of the housing ministry confirmed to Dawn that the meeting approved new joint venture regulations mainly related to land acquisition.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2025