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Multiple projects of FGEHF stalled due to litigation, corruption inquiries and failure to acquire land
ISLAMABAD: Not a single housing project inaugurated by Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) in the last five years has seen the light of the day as allottees of these schemes await possession.
The Foundation, in the meanwhile, is busy fighting its F-14 scheme case in Islamabad High Court (IHC), defending itself before Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which has halted work on its Thallian project, while Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is investigating its officers for the scam worth millions of rupees
FGEHF is currently working on following projects Phase-VI, (Bhara-Kahu), Housing Scheme Phase-VI, (F-14/F-15), Housing Scheme Phase-VIII (Thallian), Housing Scheme Phase-IX (EHFPRO) and Housing Scheme Phase-X (Park Road)
The first project was developing Sector F-14, F-15, allotments were made, the award for development was given to FWO, most of the land was transferred from the locals to the foundation. While things were going smooth, Justice Athar Minallah of IHC cancelled the allotments of Sector F-14.The Foundation, however, went into Intra Court appeal where the hearings are ongoing.
Another project of the foundation was in Housing Scheme Phase-VIII (Thallian), a joint venture with the private sector. It is pertinent to mention here that in federal government only FGEHF has the mandate to enter into joint ventures with the private sector.
Once again, PAC took suo moto notice and halted the project. That project had main access from motorway but due to failure to pay for land acquisition, the project is at standstill.
Housing Scheme Phase VI in Bara Kahu, since 2009, suffered from the chronic issue of Right of Way to the society. Angoori road, the only road to connect society with the main road is only 12 feet wide and is insufficient to cater to the traffic flow. The Executive Foundation is in the process of acquiring more land from the locals and construct a 100 feet dual carriageway.
Another project of FGEHF is Green Enclave II, Tehsil Murree, where it has bought land for 4,00000 rupees per kanaal, while this time around PAC has appreciated the foundation’s work.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court (SC) is hearing a petition on adverse effects of construction of housing societies on the environment. Along with FGEHF, Bahria Town Golf City and Commoners Garden are also respondents.
The FGEHF was set up in March 1990 and registered as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Ordinance, 1984. It was originally entrusted with the task of implementing the self-financing housing schemes on ownership basis for employees of Federal Government.
Initially, the FGEHF did an exemplary job and within half a decade, about 16000 houses were constructed, 4000 plots were allotted to the successful applicants with an option to undertake construction under their own arrangements but the zeal with which FGEHF started working soon petered out.
Major reasons behind this neglect, sources claim, boils down to the fact that FGEHF has invested its resources and energy in planning and selling new residential schemes notably in Barakahu, F-14, F-15. The foundation, however, has failed to catalyze work in more than a decade old sector G-14. There are scant signs of development, especially in G-14/1. Other sub-sectors like G-14/2 and G-14/3 don’t portray a different picture either.
Back in 2003, FGEHF allotted plots to many govt servants and the general public but many amongst them are yet to have possession as encroachments are rife in the area.
“FGEHF has launched new projects and we have launched residential schemes in Bara Kahu and sector F-14 and apartment in G-13. In the presence of these new initiatives. I admit the progress is slow but it is mainly due to inquiries, land acquisition, notices of Public Accounts Committee, cases pending before IHC,” said Sajid Asadi, focal person of FGEHF.
Asadi said that FGEHF works on no profit, no loss basis and has performed a tremendous job in the past. “We are primarily focused on government employees as they give their lives to the government and many of them are denied their own home due to limited resources. FGEHF has devised a mechanism where govt servants are subsidised and given plots in fully developed sectors,” he said.