ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: Families of over 300 employees working with autonomous and semi-autonomous departments in the federal capital breathed a sigh of relief after a subcommittee of the Senate standing committee on housing and works directed the relevant ministry to stop their eviction from official houses unless a policy is chalked out to decide their fate.

The subcommittee directed the Ministry of Housing and Works to withdraw the notices recently served on the employees asking them to vacate the accommodation in three months.

The affected persons have strongly opposed the eviction orders, saying they have been living legally and paying standard rent to the estate office.

“If we are not entitled to government accommodation, then why the estate office has issued allotment letters to a number of employees of autonomous and semi-autonomous departments during the last three years?”

The departments whose employees had been asked to vacate official accommodation are: the Capital Development Authority, Islamabad police, Associated Press of Pakistan, PTV, PBC, OGDC, International Islamic University, Pakistan Sports Board, PMDC, HBFC, National institute of Psychology, Pims Hospital, Foreign Training Institute, NIH, Zarai Taraqiati Bank, PARC, Pakistan Engineering Council, National Highway Authority, National Construction Company, PTCL, Agriculture Price Commission, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan, IRI, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council, OPF, Customs Office, Monopoly Control Authority, Pakistan Academy of Letters, National Physical and Standard Laboratories, ICT administration, Islamabad judiciary, National Language Authority and University Grants Commission.