National

Senate Committee on Housing & Works members urge the need to collaborate in reforming Housing Ministry & combating corruption

ISLAMABAD, July 12 (SABAH): The inaugural session of the Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works convened on Friday under the chairmanship of Senator Nasir Mehmood at OLD PIPs HALL, Parliament Lodges.

Present were Senators Bilal Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Aslam Abro, Khalida Ateeb, Raja Nasir Abbas, Fawzia Arshad, and Senator Husna Bano. Federal Minister for Housing & Works, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, also attended, the meeting.

The Committee received a detailed overview of the Ministry & its attached departments along with budgetary allocations for the FY 2024-25 and PSDP 2024-25. The briefing disclosed a total budget allocation of PKR 8,552.000 million, encompassing various departments including M/o Housing and Works (PKR 1,011.000 million for employee-related expenses and PKR 100 million for non-ERE expenses), Pak PWD, Estate Office (PKR 245.000 million for ERE and PKR 88.000 million for non-ERE), and Federal Lodge (PKR 182.000 million for ERE and PKR 5.000 million for non-ERE).

The Committee was also briefed about the mandate of Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA), whereby the authority develops housing schemes for federal government employees and specified groups. Upcoming projects such as Lifestyle Residency (EHPHRO) in G-13 Islamabad and flats in Sectors G-12 and F-12 Islamabad were announced, with expected completion by June 2026. It was further told that the Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation aims to develop housing schemes for federal government employees and low-income groups, with ongoing projects including I-16 (98.5% complete) and I-12 Islamabad (86% complete).

Additionally, 41,144 federal government servants are registered on the general waiting list of the Estate Office, distributed as follows: Quetta (505), Peshawar (2,123), Karachi (4,312), Lahore (5,257), and Islamabad (28,947).

During the discussion on human resources, the Committee proposed utilizing the competent officials for the preservation of archaeological buildings. The minister assured the Committee of a separate briefing on subsidiary bodies within the Ministry, if required.

Expressing concern over corruption, the Federal Minister highlighted instances such as the double purchase of Badshah Dam land and overpriced acquisitions in Islamabad, leading to prolonged legal battles for compensation.

Committee members urged the need to collaborate in reforming the Housing Ministry and combating corruption.