ISLAMABAD, Nov 15: Housing Minister Syed Safwanullah has issued 3,488 out-of-turn allotments of quarters to federal government employees despite the fact that the General Waiting List (GWL) of such employees seeking accommodation has swelled over 35,000.

The minister informed the National Assembly on Wednesday that he had issued allotment letters for 3,488 out-of-turn allotment cases, of which 1,430 employees had obtained government accommodation and the rest would be facilitated as occupied quarters are vacated.

Meanwhile, those who are on the GWL have demanded of the government to construct more houses in order to resolve their problem as over 35,000 employees working with different departments of the federal government were facing severe residential problems due to lack of government accommodation in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

An employee, Mohammad Sharif, said the Estate Office (EO) was not following the principles of merit and seniority and its officials did not entertain their cases without bribe.

“We do not want to give bribe to the EO officials but we are forced to do it,” the affected employee said.

Some other employee demanded of the housing ministry to mend the ways of the EO and direct its officials not to be rude with the applicants.

According to the EO’s record, a total of 125,000 employees are working with different departments of the federal government. However, only 25,000 government houses are available in the capital.

The record said more than 20,000 employees are residing in hired houses and more than 58,000 are living in rented houses.

Government employees told Dawn that they have to pay a minimum amount of Rs50,000 as bribe for allotment of even a small quarter.

An official of the housing ministry said in view of accommodation problems of the federal government employees, a housing project was launched in sector G-11/4 by the government at an estimated cost of Rs132 million.

He said a proposal to construct about 5,000 new houses was under consideration.