Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works, led by Chairman Nasir Mehmood, has initiated investigations into long-standing irregularities, including unpaid dues and delayed construction endeavors, within the housing sector, implementing strict deadlines for compliance and responsibility.
The committee voiced serious apprehensions regarding the Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation’s (PHA-F) 26-year occupancy of office space within the Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat without a valid agreement. The committee mandated PHA to formalize an agreement and commence rent collection within two weeks.
The committee scrutinized the NAB Courts’ occupancy of the Federal Lodge in Lahore without rental payments since March 2021. Despite repeated requests from the Ministry of Housing and Works, the Ministry of Law and Justice has not cleared the outstanding Rs. 63.378 million. A one-week deadline has been issued for payment, after which eviction proceedings will commence.
Discussion surrounding Senator Mohammad Humayun Mohmand’s inquiry about the Lifestyle Residency project revealed multiple factors contributing to its postponement, including financial instability, disputes between partners, and the contractor’s demise. The matter awaits an audit report for further review.
Regarding a petition for a new Director position in the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA), authorities clarified that the focus is on restructuring existing positions rather than creating new ones.
The FIA reported on its investigations into housing project fraud. Over the past decade, 316 inquiries and 22 cases have been registered against the Ministry and its associated bodies. Of the inquiries, 216 were closed, while 80 remain open. Eighteen of the 22 formal complaints have been submitted to court, and four are under investigation. In Pak-PWD cases alone, 220 inquiries led to 23 arrests, with 10 individuals still sought.
The committee received a briefing on the Sky Gardens project, a joint venture involving over 6,200 kanals of land. Legal battles persist over a portion of the land. Infrastructure work is progressing, with 35% completion in Package-I and 37% in Package-II. The project anticipates allotting 4,200 plots upon completion.
Other matters, including FGEHA membership funds and the status of housing projects in Islamabad, were postponed until the subsequent meeting. Senators Husna Bano, Khalida Ateeb, Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Hidayat Ullah Khan, and Mohammad Humayun Mohmand were present.