ISLAMABAD, April 13: All allotments of government houses made by the caretaker government in violation of rules have been cancelled.

Minister for Housing and Works Rehmatullah Kakar told APP that thousands of government houses had been occupied illegally in the capital and the government would get them vacated.

The minister said a survey had shown that the land in the capital’s G-6 sector was worth Rs450 billion and the government was not in a position to give such precious land on ownership basis.

“Notices have been issued to the occupants of G-6 quarters and the government has decided to start a grand operation and, if necessary, use the Frontier Constabulary to get the quarters vacated,” he warned.

He said the government would provide alternative accommodation to the occupants of the quarters and a new sector would be developed for them.

He said there was an acute shortage of government houses in the federal capital and the low-paid employees were facing problems.

He said the allotment procedure would be made transparent and all allotments would be made on merit.

He said the record of Estate Office was being scrutinised and evidence was being collected for strict action against the officials involved in the illegal allotments.

He said the former heads of the ministry were also involved in allotment of houses in violation of rules.

In reply to a question, the minister said the previous governments had deferred giving ownership rights to the occupants of the G-6 quarters because it would have set a precedent for other government employees to get ownership of official accommodation after retiring.

He said that political leaders, police and high officials, and not any mafia, were involved in the illegal occupation of government houses some of which had been sublet.

He said a list of such people had been prepared and notices had been issued to them.

He said the record of the housing ministry and Estate Office was being put on a website so that kickbacks in allotment of houses and the grabbing of government land could be stopped.

Mr Kakar said that one million houses would be built for low-paid federal government employees and the general public on the directives of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.

He said apartments would also be allotted to businessmen, doctors, lawyers and other professionals.

He said a housing scheme comprising 1,000 flats would be launched in sector G-10 within two weeks.

He said all people who owned no house could apply in the scheme and the units would be given on ownership basis.

He said 3,000 flats would be constructed in G-14, F-12 and I-16 sectors for low-paid federal government employees.

He said the Pakistan Housing Authority was working on a plan to build 37,000 housing units for federal government employees on the pattern of the Army Welfare Trust. He said the houses would be given to the employees on ownership basis after their retirement.

He said 234 acres had been earmarked near the Kurri Road for 10,000 housing units for officers of Grades 17 to 22.

The minister said the government had revived the five-marla scheme. The provincial and district governments would provide land and the construction would be carried out by local and foreign companies.

He said a new housing policy was being prepared and almost 50 per cent of work had been completed.

He said new residential sectors would be developed in the capital and development work in F-12 would be taken up soon.

He said the issue of sector D-12 would also be resolved.

He said companies from China, Korea and Turkey had shown interest in participating in the housing schemes where both conventional and modern construction techniques would be used.

Mr Kakar said banks would give loans for purchasing the houses and talks were under way with foreign banks, particularly the Bank of China, to give the loans on low mark-up.

He said the plan would be tabled in the next meeting of the cabinet.—APP