ISLAMABAD - Public Accounts Committee on Wednesday ruled that policy of allotting plots to federal government employees was not fair; rather it is discriminatory and bogus.
“We want distribution of plots to government employees on equal basis which can only be ensured by adopting non-discriminatory policy. The policy which ensures plots to all of the deserving government employees,” Chairman Public Accounts Committee Nadeem Afzal Chan said on Thursday during proceedings of the committee.
In compliance with orders of Public Accounts Committee, Director General of Federal Government Employees Housing Federation and Pakistan Housing Authority appeared before the committee and informed the members that 5,554 government officials applied to get plots.
“Against application of 5,554, the government could only manage to give plots to 1,800 officials while rest of them were still waiting for their turn,” Director General Talat Rashid told PAC.
Showing displeasure over the performance of Federal Government Employees Housing Federation and Pakistan Housing Authority, Chan declared the plot giving policy as bogus and discriminatory and asked DG to revisit it.
“We have credible information that some bureaucrats have been allotted multiple plots valuing million of rupees while others are still awaiting to get one. How would you justify it,” Chairman PAC questioned asking the DG. He also directed DG FGEHF and PHA to submit complete list of government officials waiting for allotment of plot.
Before concluding session of PAC on Thursday, Chan asked secretary of Public Accounts committee to issue notices to chief secretaries of all the four provinces to provide separate lists of all those who were allotted plots and those who were still waiting for their turn.
“Submit the lists within a week. Get ready for action otherwise,” Chairman PAC said on Thursday.
The committee met here under its chairman Chan Wednesday in Parliament House to review audit observations in respect of ministry of housing for the year 2004-05.
The chairman PAC rejected the impression that PAC was creating hurdles in the way of bureaucrats to get plots and rules on Thursday that committee wants a non-discriminatory policy be adopted in connection with allotment of plots to government employees.
“We want the government to give houses to employees and prime minister has promised to take concrete steps in this regard,” Chairman PAC said.
Earlier Committee was informed that 481 individual including bureaucrats and politicians managed to get plots in posh sectors of Islamabad violating the rules and regulations. The committee summoned list of all those to whom plots were allotted.