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Senate committee grills housing minister; FGEHF over sector G 14 delay

ISLAMABAD, OCT 05 (DNA) – Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) Ordinance caused a verbal altercation Housing Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema and Senator Behra Mand Tangi in the Senate Standing Committee on Housing on Friday.

Senator Tangi said if the ordinance has to be brought then what is the need of lawmaker? He questioned as to why the ordinance was brought despite approval of the bill by the committee.

The meeting presided by Senator Mir Kabir Ahmed Shahi discussed the allotment matter of the Sector G-14’s sub sector. Senator Tangi said that people had submitted money for plots 10 to 15 years ago but they were still waiting for the possession of the plots.

Allotment could still not take place. He questioned the issues that could not be solved within the past 10 to 15 years.

The CEO Housing Authority Waseem Hayat Bajwa said that the payment of build up property in this sector is a big issue upon which senator Tangi said that he was told in the senate that due to security issues they could not go to the sector.

The CEO housing authority said that there are some illegal properties issues in G 14 where a mob of women and children gathers upon which the committee, summoned the chief commissioner Islamabad and chairman CDA on the land acquisition matter in the next meeting.

Federal minister Tariq Bashir Cheema protested over the provision of reviewed agenda with delay in the meeting and said that the meeting is called with a three days’ notice and the agenda was changed at night.

The chairman committee said we call the meeting but are told that he committee room is not available.

Every time, the meeting is called with a notice of 10 to 12 days. The minister housing said that committee can call a meeting in the committee room of the minister of housing.

The senate standing committee on Housing was informed that aroud 1345 government residential units of various categories had been got vacated from illegal occupants since May 1.

The committee meeting was also informed in writing that 4600 houses had illegally been accupied in Karachi, while the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) had been approached for rent collection from defaulting retired officers from their pensions and serving government employees from their salary.

The Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) Director General informed the committee that Bhara Kahu Housing Scheme was launched in March 2009, comprising of 3153 Kanals land on first come first serve basis, for which a total 3600 people had got themselves registered plots.

He said land was acquired from the owners at a cost of Rs 0.9 million per Kanal.

He said the actual price of the plots had escalated from Rs 3 million to Rs 4.4 million due to delay of the scheme and increase in cost of development works.

About a question, raised by Senator Tangi regarding the possession of plots to the allottees in sub sector one of G 14, the DG FGEHF informed the committee that federal government had launched this scheme in 2004.

In G-14 sub sector 1, the area was occupied by 600 to 700 Built Up Properties (BUP) including factories.

He said the Foundation had decided to shift these BUP to G-15/3 and the payment, against BUP, was being made through the sale of G-14 Markaz, which was opposed and objected by Capital Development Authority.

However, the FGEHF has been given the Status of Authority by government.

Now, he said the Authority was empowered to sell the said property and payment would be made to owners of built up properties by shifting them to G15/3.

The amount of Rs 6 to 7 billion was required for the settlement of liabilities of the BUP in G 14/1, which could be achieved under this strategy.

The DG said the issue of plots’ allotment in G-14/2&3 world be solved witin two to three months while in Sub sector 1, it could take a little bit more time.

The development of work has already been completed on the two sub sectors and people would get allotment of plots very soon.

The senate body also directed the Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Commissioner Islamabad to appear before the committee for comprehensive briefing on G-14/1 sector.=DNA

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