The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works Thursday expressed serious concern over leasing of all commercial units including shops and petrol pumps at nominal rent in big cities including Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar. It directed the Ministry of Housing to lease the commercial units and buildings through open bidding process after completion of their leasing period.
The committee met with Senator Mir Kabeer Ahmed Muhammad Shahi in the chair here at the Parliament House on Thursday. The committee discussed commercial holdings owned by the Estate Office, working and performance of the Pakistan Public Works Department and other issues.
The committee has directed the ministry to auction all commercial units including shops and petrol pumps after completion of their leasing period in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar as existing rent is very low as compared to that of the market.
The Senate body asked the ministry to advertise new leasing of all commercial units in national and local media and lease out commercial property through open auction. The government can get maximum revenue through open and transparent auctioning.
It was also told to the committee that some cases are pending in the courts about leasing of commercial units and buildings.
The committee chairman said that rents of buildings are very low as compared to that of the commercial market. He said that the ministry directed their lawyers and legal exports to avoid delaying tactics and expedite their work about cases in the courts.
The ministry assured the committee that soon more details will be provided to the body in this regard and appreciated the decision of the committee.
Secretary of Housing Imran Zeb Khan briefed the committee that the ministry has 221 shops and nine petrol pumps in Karachi while it has 32 shops in Lahore and 20 in Peshawar.
Imran said that total sanctioned strength of staff in PWD is 3,571 while 3,187 employees are working and 384 posts are still vacant as the recruitment process for vacant posts has been suspended due to a ban imposed by Election Commission of Pakistan.
He said the main function of PWD is fixation of rent of government owned, hired and requisitioned buildings, management of Federal Lodges, execution of federal government works, development of sites, construction, furnishing, and maintenance of federal government buildings, except those under the Defense Division.
The committee also sought a comprehensive report about the details of 10 percent allotment of residential houses to other than government employees such as bankers and journalists.
It was told to the committee that there are 749 projects under SDGS worth Rs 4612 million. The standing committee sought details of these schemes and projects.
An official told the committee that the ministry looks after of 142 government offices and 16,514 government residential buildings. He said that beside it, the ministry is also responsible for repairing and maintenance of Prime Minister House, Prime Minister Staff Colony, Supreme Court building, High Court building, Judge Resident Colony and 17 Federal Lodges.
Senators including Najma Hammed, Behramand Khan Tangi, Khanzada Khan, Brigadier John Keneth Williams (Retd), and Naseebullah Bazai, and senior officials of the ministry attended the meeting.