NAB chairman, prosecutor's enclave residences to be vacated

NAB chairman, prosecutor general among those provided residence in violation of rules

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works has directed authorities to have the houses in Islamabad’s Minister’s Enclave area, which had been temporarily allotted to the chairman and prosecutor general of the National Accountability Bureau at the time of the interim government, vacated.

The committee, which was briefed by the secretary of the housing department on Monday, was informed about the illegal occupation of houses by NAB officials in the enclave.

“Only ministers or government officials of the ministerial rank may be given houses in the Minister’s Enclave,” the housing secretary told the committee chaired by Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi.

Elaborating on the unusual allotment of the houses, Secretary Imran Zaib further said that government accommodation in the enclave are reserved only for the ministers as per the prevalent rules. “However, three housing units are not currently counted in the available portfolio as they have been allocated to the chairman and prosecutor general of NAB,” he added.

The committee chairman observed that nine housing units in the minister enclave were allotted in violation of rules and regulations, including houses given to special assistants to the prime minister (SAPM).

The housing secretary explained that those SAPMs had been allocated houses in the Minister’s Enclave who were granted status of federal minister rank by the cabinet division.

The committee chairman inquired whether allotment rules varied from one party to another. “Even NAB’s role has been different when dealing with the members of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf as compared to those of opposition parties,” the committee chairman said, directing the housing secretary to ensure that houses given against the rules were vacated.

The meeting was further informed that the authorities had reclaimed 1,345 government-owned houses from occupants since May 2018.

Estate Officer Ubaid Uddin said that Karachi had 4600 houses in illegal occupation while the housing secretary maintained that the ministry would approach the office of the Account General Pakistan Revenues (AGPR) for collection of rent from incumbent government officials of such houses while rent collection from the retired officers will be made from pensions.

Zaib continued that amendments were being made in the allotment policy for houses held by the federal government. “From now on, the rates of the housing units will be determined as per TA/DA. The federal government chamber in Lahore is reporting a loss of Rs20 million while Qasr-e-Naz (government rest house in Karachi) is reporting Rs10 million in annual losses.”

Taking note of the losses, a strategy was being developed to cut down the deficit, the housing secretary said, adding that daily rent for houses in Gulshan-e-Jinnah was Rs150, while Rs50 were charged on account of maintenance and Rs110 as service charges.

As per court orders, a draft has been prepared, which would be implemented after approval by the cabinet, said the housing secretary.

As per the draft of the new policy, the rates of government-owned accommodation would be increased while duration for which housing units were provided may be revised as well.

The duration for accommodation in Gulshan-e-Jinnah would be 18 months, with a possible extension of up to six months.