KARACHI: Retired employees of the federal government departments residing in ministry of housing’s Federal Capital Area, Pakistan Quarters, Martin Quarters, Jahangir Road, Bath Island and other areas should not be evicted and the federal government should cooperate with them by ensuring basic amenities in these localities.
This was recommended by the Senate Standing Committee for Housing and Construction which met here at the office of the Sindh chief secretary on Wednesday.
Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee Senator Tanveerul Haque chaired the meeting which was attended by Senator Haji Hussain Toori, Senator Saeedul Hasan Mandokhel, Senator Khalida Perveen and Senator Khanzada Khan and the federal secretary for housing and construction.
The meeting participants were informed by Federal Minister for Housing and Construction Akram Durrani that in Karachi 3,500 retired federal government employees were residing on an area of over 241 acres.
The government had no intention to evict them, but wanted to raise their standard of living. He said it was his proposal that the area should be included in the ‘Prime Minister Apna Ghar Housing Scheme’ and in this connection he would also request Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to include the project in the scheme.
But if this project was not made part of the scheme, the area of 241 acres might be used to shift retired employees, employees in service and those not employed or retired from government service.
He said retired employees had to make Rs200,000 down payment to get a flat and Rs10,000 per month instalment which would be completed in 15 to 20 years to get its ownership.
Senator Shahi Syed proposed that the land should be utilised to build flats which should be provided to the retired employees free of cost.
The other issues, which were discussed by the committee included getting back the possession of a plot measuring 3.14 acres adjacent to the Carlton Hotel with the cooperation of the Sindh government, audit issue with the Maymar Construction Company
that needed to be resolved at the earliest and the improvement and upgrading of Qasr-i-Naz.