The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is nowadays busy in allotting official residences to contractual employees against the set rules and regulations, triggering deep disquiet amongst the senior hierarchy, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Having posted them on high posts with all perks and privileges, including car and petrol, and giving no regard to basic terms and conditions, allotment of official residences is a new illegality reigning supreme in the authority. “If the rampant rules violations remain unchecked, LDA regular officials, rendering their services over the last 20 years will stand deprived of official residences, the basic privilege they deserve as per rules,” a senior LDA official told Pakistan Today.
“A contractual employee, appointed in LDA, is not an employee of the authority and cannot enjoy all facilities and entitlements that belong to a regular employee,” he said. Referring to a specific clause, he said, “As per rules, F2 employee means an employee of the authority but does not include a person on deputation to the authority from the federal government or an autonomous or semi-autonomous organisation and a person who is employed on contract or on work charged basis or who is paid from the contingencies.”
Recently, LDA Director General (DG) Abdul Jabbar Shaheen sought report from Administration Director Shahid Farid on July 20 on application for allotment of official residence by Sumaira Sadiq, assistant director (GC), presently working as deputy director in the Directorate of Estate Management (LDA Avenue-1). On this, showing quick action, LDA Deputy Director Khurram Siddiqui submitted a comprehensive report for allotment of residences to high-ups on the same day.
According to the allotment letter available with Pakistan Today, Sumaira, appointed on contract as assistant director, said that house number 28-D New Muslim Town was going to be vacated due to superannuation of LDA Director Farhad Ali. She requested that the aforementioned house might kindly be allotted to her on compassionate grounds subject to its vacation. “As per the available record, the official accommodation number 28-D/X, New Muslim Town was allocated to Farhad, vide office order number LDA/ADMN/PS383 dated 15.09.2009 (Ref Page-3/c). Farhad is presently on an ex-Pakistan leave and going to retire from LDA service in 2012. He has already surrendered his house saying that he will not come back from Canada and did not need official accommodation anymore.
He requested the administration director to takeover possession of the said house in his letter dated 30.06.2011 (Ref Page-13/C). Presently, the official accommodation is lying vacant,” the letter said. The letter also said that since, Sumaira had been discharging her duties as deputy director (GC) for more than 10 months, her request for allotment of the said official accommodation could be considered on compassionate grounds. According to sources, the official decision had been taken to award her the official residence despite the fact she was appointed on contract. But formal action would be taken in coming days, sources said.
