FAISALABAD, Sept 14: Despite the division of ex-TMA assets some five months ago, the City District Government of Faisalabad still appears unwilling to hand over the official residences to the Madina Town administration.

All houses are still in the possession of the CDGF officers who are not paying even a penny of rent.

Faisalabad had been awarded the status of city district before the last local election and its two tehsils — city and Saddar — were divided into four towns, i.e, Lyallpur, Jinnah, Iqbal and Madina.

The assets of these two tehsils were equally divided among the towns and accordingly, the 92 official residences were to be handed over to the Madina Town. However, it is unable to take over its property owing to indifference of the CDGF authorities.

The situation is causing a great deal of inconvenience to the public as many routine works, including sanitation, have come to a standstill.

As the towns have started raising their voice against the local administration at all forums, the Punjab government has taken stock of the situation and the local government secretary called a joint meeting during which several issues were discussed and a decision was taken to resolve the problems.

Sources divulged that the CDGF officials were not ready to place the official residences under the administration of the Madina Town authorities. “Neither the residences are being handed over to the town administration nor is any officer ready to pay the rent.”

Ironically, the DCO had ordered on April 10 last that the town administration was responsible for maintenance and repairs of the transferred residences despite having information that the houses were under the control of his own officers, they said.

On June 30, the district mushawarat committee meeting was called in which it was decided that the towns were authorised to do re-allotment of the residences.

It is learnt that the executive district officer has now directed the officers occupying these residences to deposit their rent with the CDG account.

An officer of the affected town told this correspondent that the officials had made repeated requests to the district government to hand over the assets to the town and deposit the rent of official residences to the town management.

The incumbent town nazim Chaudhry Ali Akhtar is the younger brother of Chaudhry Zaheeruddin, the provincial works and communication minister.