Govt officers await promised land

Despite paying for the plot scheme for years, thousands of applicants have still not been allocated their properties

LAHORE:

In a country where some fortunate bureaucrats are able to secure fancy cars right upon their appointment to office, thousands of other government officers remain deprived of land which they had paid for out of their own pockets for decades.

One such officer was Sajid Khanum, a Grade 19 officer who retired from the Education Department four years ago. "The plot instalment charges had been deducted from my salary every month for the last 20 years. I was told that the plot will be given soon after. Now, it has been more than 18 years and I am still waiting for my turn," regretted Khanum.

Similarly, Rukhsana Kausar, a Grade 17 employee of the Health Department revealed that she retired in 2021. "I had given preference for a plot in Faisalabad. Now, the foundation officials are saying that my number is 150 in queue and all 149 applicants will be given their plots first in Faisalabad and then I will receive my land. For this I may have to wait two to three years more," lamented Kausar.

Sardar Iqbal, a resident of Sahiwal, disclosed that a plot of his father-in-law was found in Faisalabad, but the dealer mafia sold the land due to the negligence of some officers of the department. "When we were called to the Lahore office with the papers, we were told that our plot is to be transferred. We tried to stop the transfer of the plot but now we do not know who has sold the plot in Faisalabad and how," said Iqbal.

According to documents obtained by The Express Tribune, the Punjab Government Servants Housing Foundation was established in 2004. At that time, 144,000 officers and employees of government departments applied, however 93,000 members are yet to get their plots which range in size from five Marla D Type, seven Marla C Type, 10 Marla B Type, one Canal A Type, and one Canal A One Type lands across cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Multan, DG Khan and Bahawalpur. However, due to the inefficiency in allotment of land, many officers and employees have turned to the courts, with 22 cases pending in the Civil Courts, 170 cases in the High Court and 55 cases pending in the Sessions Court.

Speaking to The Express Tribune on the matter, Rai Manzoor Nasir, Managing Director Punjab Government Servants Housing Foundation conceded that the officers posted in the foundation since many years had failed to fulfil their duties due to which thousands of members could not get their plots in time. "The total members of Punjab Servants Housing Foundation are from twelve different departments, of which the number of employees and officers from the education and health department's is the highest hence their complaints are more. We are setting up the rules which will end the priority system and plots will be allocated on the basis of seniority. Furthermore, widows and children will get plots in their inheritance rights. Earlier, six months were required for ownership change but now this will be possible within three days of newspaper advertisement."