Relief for people: Swati criticises 'some' departments impeding government efforts

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Senator Mohammad Azam Khan Swati has said that it is the policy of the government to provide maximum relief to the people but some departments disgrace and demean the people because of their inability, incompetence and laziness.

The minister expressed these views while responding to the questions of the members in a meeting of Sub-Committee of the Senate Functional Committee on Government Assurance which met with Senator Fida Muhammad Khan in the chair at Old PIPS Hall, Parliament House, on Friday. The sub-committee had been assured that 150 developed plots would be given to the allotees within 60 days, but it did not happen, said Senator Fida Mohammad.

He said that there are many employees of the Senate and National Assembly who have retired and some have even died who had deposited the plot money but they did not receive the plot. He said that the concerned authority had sought two months (July and August) and had assured that relief would be given to the allotees but it did not happen.

The representative of Jinnah Garden Society management informed the committee that the work has been pending for long. However, as per the directions of the committee, 100 plots have been given to the allottees.

The sub-committee was told that management of National Assembly has allotted plots on the basis of seniority. The committee was informed that the layout plan of the Jinnah Garden Society had been canceled by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). It was also informed that layout plan has now been resubmitted and development work will start after its approval.

The CDA official stated that the conditions regarding the layout plan were not fulfilled. He said that the Jinnah Garden Society should provide certified copies, adding the advertisement will be published within 15 days.

DC Islamabad Mohammad Hamza Shafakat told the committee that Jinnah Garden Society and its land do not belong to the government. He said that it is a private society. He said that approval of any society's layout plan solves 90% of its problems. The committee directed the society management to provide the CDA with the necessary items so that the layout could be approved as soon as possible and recommended that the society and CDA provide assistance in resolving the issues as soon as possible. The committee was informed that Capital Enclave, a housing society, occupied 67 kanals of land of Jinnah Garden Society. It was also informed that a man named Rashid, an owner of a plot has illegally occupied 150 plots.

Senator Fida Muhammad said that Jinnah Garden Society has not been giving plots to the people for 17 years. He said that CDA and police should take action against those people who have illegally occupied the plots.