LAHORE – Ridiculing the turncoats (lotas) among the Treasury ranks for the first time, Punjab Law Minister, Rana Sanaullah has said that no ‘lota’ has been allotted a single house in the Aashiana Housing Scheme, while the Opposition is criticizing the project, as it is not ready to digest the public service scheme due to its transparency.
Rana Sana said this while replying to various queries regarding Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) taken up in the 32nd session of the Punjab Assembly on Friday.
Replying to a supplementary question raised by Dr Samaya Amjad, he said that Aashiana Housing Scheme was aimed at benefiting the middle class of the province and the houses in the society were being given under a transparent system.
However, another member, Samina Khawar Hayat in a sarcastic manner said that the scheme was so transparent, as a ‘lota’ was heading the project. The minister on this point said in that no turncoat had been benefited from the scheme.
Rana on another query regarding the provincial government resolve for addressing the grievance of the PCS officers said that out of 36 district coordination officers in the province, 13 belonged to the PCS cadre, while out of nine divisions, one division was being headed by a PCS commissioner.  Responding to another question, he said that the provincial government had received Rs 3 billion from provincial government employees till April 30, 2008 for Punjab Government Servants Housing Scheme out of which Rs 2.2 billion had been utilized for the construction of 258 houses, while the members of the scheme could get the possession of their homes by paying the remaining payment.
He added that no plan has underway to provide interest-free loans to the members in this regard at the moment, however cutting the surcharge to the members could be considered in case of death of any member to lowering the burden of his dependents. Rana also said that Treasury would support any Bill moved in this direction by any member on Private Member Day.  The minister said that the first housing project of the scheme comprising 258 housing units of seven marlas were near the completion process in Mohlanwal, while similar schemes also underway in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur.
Replying to yet another query regarding the performance of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), the provincial law minister said that there was no room for the political role in ACE, as the there was no space for the interference of the provincial government in the department under the existing law of the organisation.
Rana informed the House in response to another question that cut the limit to two years from five years for a public servant to retain an official residence.  However, when Shamsa Gauher who raised the question pointed out the example of Salman Siddiq who still has in his possession a house at Golf Road, despite the fact he was no more serving here.  Rana said that Salman didn’t fall under the two-year limit, as he had taken over the possession under the old law of public houses and he would vacate the premises when the term expired.  The minister responding to yet another query told the House that the provincial government had purchased 706 vehicles at the cost of around Rs 977 million in the financial year 2007-8, while in 2008-9, it purchased 283 vehicles with a cost of Rs 836 million and in 2009-10, the amount for 375 vehicles was more than Rs 1 billion.