Sectors G-13, G-14: Housing body asked to take action against encroachments

Senate committee warns that delayed action could provide justification to others for illegal activities

ISLAMABAD: Standing Committee on Housing and Works has directed the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) to immediately initiate legal action against illegal constructions and non-conforming use of residential property in sectors G-13 and G-14.

The meeting, chaired by MNA Haji Akram Ansari, also directed the foundation to submit monthly progress report on action taken against encroachments and constructions.

The committee observed that the foundation should strengthen its enforcement mechanism and initiate timely action against encroachments and constructions.

Delayed action could provide a justification to others for illegal activities, it warned.

The director-general (DG) of the foundation apprised the committee that an FIR had been lodged against khateeb of a mosque, which was constructed illegally on a greenbelt along the Kashmir Highway in G-13/1, and notices were issued to commercial users of residential property.

Besides, he shared details of action initiated against illegally-constructed kiosks, hotels and other encroachments.

An enforcement directorate had been established in the housing foundation to check illegal constructions, encroachments and non-conforming use of property in various sectors, the committee was told.

While briefing the members on progress on the Bhara Kahu Housing Scheme, he stated that land acquisition process was discontinued after ban imposed by the interior ministry.

“However, to facilitate the members of the Bhara Kahu scheme, the ministry has invited expression of interest and called tenders for provision of land adjacent to that already in possession of the FGEHF,” the senate committee was told.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2016.