Ignoring its own manifesto as well as the consensus recommendations of the PAC, the Nawaz Sharif government is all set to launch two housing projects in the federal capital in line with the controversial policy of quota for government servants, judges, journalists and employees of constitutional bodies and corporations.
According to media reports, sources in the Housing Ministry said that the Federal Government Housing Foundation has been given a green signal to launch two schemes in the federal capital as per the quota policy that was approved in the year 2009.
One of these schemes offering 4,000 plots on concession would be launched in Bhara Kahu while through the other scheme, 2,800 flats would be built and allotted to the selected classes of society again on discounted rates. Out of these 2,800 flats, 20 percent would be sold to general public but on market price.
The Housing Ministry sources said that as per its manifesto, the government would launch schemes for lower income people in other cities but there was no such consideration for Islamabad.
While the government intends to give second plots to almost 100 federal secretaries in the Bhara Kahu scheme, the Public Accounts Committee had recommended discontinuation of the policy of allotment of second residential plot to federal secretaries and BS-22 officers.
The PAC, which was also represented by the PML-N MPs, besides finding it a waste of public money, also dubbed it discriminatory but the new schemes are being launched without amending the controversial policies of two plots for federal secretaries and judges.
The PAC had also recommended to the government to consider measures for cancellation/refund of prices of plot from officers who may have been allotted more than two plots anywhere in Pakistan as the committee had found that the bureaucrats had been collecting several plots during their service in different parts of the country.
Though ignored by the last PPP government as well, the committee recommendations also observed that provision of plots by the government to judges and journalists could lead to allegation of partiality or bias in their working, therefore, there should be no special quotas for allotment of plots except for disabled, widows and families of martyrs.
