ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works Friday took a serious notice of irregularities in rent payment, illegal occupation of government properties, and pending matters related to the Lifestyle Residency Project and Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA).
The committee met at the Parliament House with Senator Nasir Mehmood in the chair.
Responding to a question, raised by Senator Shahadat Awan about the retired government officers occupying official residences in Islamabad, federal minister for housing and works informed the committee that 10 government accommodations were currently retained by retired allottees, mainly under Rule 15(2) of AAR-2002.
He added that in such cases, the accommodations will be vacated once alternative housing for the spouse or child was arranged.
Some officers, he said, continue to occupy residences due to post-retirement re-employment, and normal rent was being charged in all such cases.
However the ministry’s response was not satisfactory and the matter was deferred for further probe and inquiry.
The committee was briefed on the 38-kanal Constantia Estate at Kashmir Point, Murree. It was informed that the commissioner Rawalpindi had received the original file of the property, though the title in favor of Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak-PWD) was yet to be verified.
The Ministry of Housing and Works, in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice, is exploring a legal action against frivolous litigants and trespassers.
In line with the federal cabinet’s decision of 18 June 2025, the watch and ward functions of Constantia Lodge have been transferred from Pak-PWD to the Estate Office with effect from July 1, 2025. Prefabricated containers have been installed for the staff, and a technical team is preparing the cost estimates for construction of a boundary wall to secure the premises.
The committee reviewed the details regarding outstanding rent payments by various government entities occupying the Ministry of Housing and Works’ properties.
The Ministry of Law and Justice has been directed by the Prime Minister’s Office to finalize a rental agreement for the Federal Lodge at Wafaqi Colony, Lahore and clear pending dues amounting to Rs67,719,872 (Rs67.71 million) for the period 13 February 2021 to 31 October 2025.
The committee chairman directed, “After three months, the ministry must report back whether the rent has been paid and the new agreement has been executed as per the orders of the prime minister. If compliance is not ensured, the premises shall be evacuated.”
Regarding the Punjab Police’s illegal setup of a police station on a residential property in Wafaqi Colony, Dhana Singh Wala, Lahore, the chairman further instructed the ministry to produce the letter of evacuation issued to the department concerned.
Furthermore, the committee was informed that under the federal cabinet’s decision of 6th September 2024, a total of 3,178 maintenance staff employees of Pak-PWD had been transferred to various departments.
Of them, 1,468 employees transferred to CDA have been paid salaries up to 30 September 2025. Moreover, 968 employees with the Estate Office and 95 with the Ministry of Defence are receiving salaries without interruption.
The remaining 647 employees, whose transfer process is still ongoing, have been paid up to 30 June 2025 by Pak-PWD.
The Ministry of Housing and Works has convened meetings with relevant stakeholders to finalize the transfer of pensions, GP Fund, and gratuity cases.
It was decided that these would be processed phase-wise, prioritizing retirees and those due to retire by 31 December 2025.
The FGEHA director general briefed the committee on the auction and lease policy for commercial plots in Sectors G-13 and G-14.
The committee was informed that auctions were conducted under open bidding, with 25% of the total premium due within 30 days and the remaining 75% payable in installments.
Plots are leased for 33 years, extendable up to 99 years, with 15% Annual Ground Rent increase every three years.
All auction results, it was noted, remain subject to approval by the FGEHA Executive Board, which reserves the right to reject any bid or withdraw any plot without reason.
The committee was apprised that the Executive Board of FGEHA, in its 38th meeting held on 3 February 2025, approved the Government-to-Government (G2G) Joint Venture-cum-Lease arrangement with the Ministry of Defence for Fuel Station Plot No. 1, measuring 2,224.9 square yards in Mauve Area, G-13/1,
Islamabad.
In return, the Ministry of Defence has undertaken to develop a 15-kanal greenbelt between Sectors G-13 and G-14 as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, ensuring that the area is maintained for beautification and public use.
The committee also sought details of the FGEHA project near Islamabad Airport and Motorway M-14, including the MoU signed with ZKB Town (Pvt.) Ltd.
The committee emphasized that all public-private partnerships must comply with policy and executive board decisions, ensuring full transparency.