Senate Committee Slams Housing Ministry over FGEHA Projects.

Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works has requested a report on the utilization of Rs500 million in funds allocated for development projects by the ministry, as well as the current status of work on these schemes. The committee, led by Senator Haji Hidayatullah, also expressed displeasure with officials, including the housing secretary, for their involvement in illegal appointments and corrupt practices. The committee highlighted that apart from causing financial losses, these activities would also have a negative impact on government employees who had been allotted residences in housing projects under the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA).

It was further revealed that the recruitment process had not considered provincial quotas, favoring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by allocating more seats. The Director General of FGEHA, Captain (retired) Zafar Iqbal, mentioned that the authority had initiated four projects: Kashmir Heights, Chaklala Heights, Skyline Apartments, and Lifestyle Residency.

The committee was informed that the contract awarded for the construction of Lifestyle Residency had been given to a company lacking the necessary expertise and certification. Additionally, the awarded company did not possess the financial resources required to carry out the project successfully.

Meanwhile, construction work on Chaklala Heights, which began in 2020, had to be halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent inflation. This pause in construction also affected progress on other projects, according to Iqbal.

Committee members criticized previous delays in project commencement, highlighting the wastage of resources and increased costs involved. In response, Dr. Shahzad Khan Bangash, the housing department secretary, explained that contractors had refused to work at the previously agreed-upon prices, leading to a settlement being reached.

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