Islamabad: New allotment rules are being formulated for flats located near the Parliament House at Gulshan-e-Jinnah being used for residential purposes by government officers and private persons alike – a news source reported. A Senate committee was informed of the plan to deal with allotment cases pertaining to the government-owned flats on Monday.
Secretary Housing and Works Dr Imran Zeb Khan informed the committee that the ministry had issued notices to residents of these flats after a court ordered the authorities concerned to evict those having used the accommodations for more than nine months. The court also asked the ministry to form new allotment rules for these government-owned flats within three months as none existed at the time.
He was pleased to announce that new rules had been finalised. These rules state that government officials could use the flats in Gulshan-e-Jinnah for 18 months; with the option of a six-month extension. Similar rules apply to the Federal Lodges as well. The secretary stated that once the new rules gain approval from the law ministry, they will be shown to the federal cabinet for a final approval.
The Senate committee asked the ministry to review the nominal rent and service charges they were procuring from people residing in such government properties, including Federal Lodges, Chamba House Lahore and Gulshan-e-Jinnah flats. Federal employees could obtain residency in some of these properties at a mere PKR 150 to PKR 250 per day. Private citizens can do the same in PKR 165 to PKR 330 only. This was the cause of these properties facing annual financial losses. Khan said the ministry was looking into it and planning to lease out these facilities to a third party.
