ISLAMABAD: The shabby condition of government houses and meager allocation by the finance ministry for their maintenance evoked strong criticism from the members of the National Assembly standing committee on housing and works at its meeting on Thursday.

The parliamentarians expressed concerns over the government failure to pay attention to the maintenance and repair works in residential quarters. Federal minister for housing and works Akram Khan Durrani informed the meeting that only about Rs225 per house had been allocated by the government due to which the ministry could not carry out maintenance works. On the suggestion of the minister, the committee decided to call the secretary finance and the chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) to its next meeting to sort out the issue.

The committee also directed the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) to take action against encroachments and non-conforming use of residential and commercial properties in sectors under its administrative control. 

The foundation was also directed to submit a monthly progress report on actions taken against encroachers and non-conforming use of houses to the committee.

The meeting was informed that the enforcement wing of the foundation had initiated action against encroachers and non-conforming users in sector G-13 and G-14.

The head of the FGEHF informed the committee that a survey of all illegal mosques in both the sectors had already been conducted and legal action initiated. 

About the Bhara Kahu Housing Scheme, the FGEHF official said issues with the land provider had already been settled after the intervention of NAB.

The layout plan has been submitted to the CDA for approval after which development works would be initiated, he said.

 Discussing the state of the federal lodges in Islamabad and provincial capitals, the committee directed for carrying out maintenance works, especially in the Fatima Jinnah Women Hostel on a priority basis.

MNA Haji Mohammad Akram Ansari chaired the meeting which was attended by MNAs Rajab Ali Khan Baloch, Rana Zahid Hussain Khan, Sahibzada Faizul Hassan, Tahira Aurangzeb, Khalida Mansoor, Nighat Parveen Mir, Sajid Nawaz Khan and Ghulam Sarwar Khan.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2016