Senate panel orders completion of Green Enclave-I within 18 months, action against encroachments

ISLAMABAD, Sep 08 (APP):Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works, under the chairmanship of Senator Nasir Mehmood, met on Tuesday to examine the alleged annexation of Shamilaat and forest lands to Sky Gardens and Green Enclave-II, the litigation status of Green Enclave-I, a briefing by NAB on FGEHA housing schemes, and anti-encroachment operations in various sectors of Islamabad.

The committee was briefed by the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) on ongoing anti-encroachment operations in F-12/G-12, G-14, G-15 and other FGEHA schemes. It was informed that more than 60 percent of encroachments had been cleared, while approximately 3,000 kanals of encroached land had been recovered in different sectors of Islamabad with the support of the Deputy Commissioner and district administration. The committee was further informed that the operations were being carried out in phases.

The chairman directed FGEHA to continue the anti-encroachment drive and ensure clearance of all encroachments from its schemes. The chairman committee also directed to submit reports in writing to committee.

The committee subsequently received a detailed briefing on the Green Enclave-I housing scheme. NAB informed the committee that an inquiry into the project had been quashed following clearance from the Supreme Court of Pakistan in 2018. However, despite the clearance, the project remained incomplete for several years, resulting in significant cost escalation and hardship for allottees.

The committee expressed serious concern over the prolonged delay and difficulties faced by the affectees and unanimously resolved to protect their legitimate rights. The chairman questioned the performance of FGEHA’s joint venture (JV) partner and its ability to fulfil contractual obligations, particularly in view of the prolonged delay.

The committee observed that FGEHA had not invoked any penalty clause despite the delays by the JV partner. It was also noted that although the land had been transferred to FGEHA, development and construction work had remained stalled. The committee was informed that a third-party evaluation of the ongoing construction had been conducted by a consultant and that the amount released corresponded to approximately 52 percent of the work completed.

FGEHA informed the committee that negotiations with the JV partner had been concluded and approval from the FGEHA Board was awaited regarding cost escalation. The JV partner assured the committee that Green Enclave-I would be completed within the next 18 months.

Following assurances from the Secretary Housing and the JV partner, the chairman directed that the Green Enclave-I project be completed within 18 months. He urged all stakeholders to honour their commitments and assured full support to the allottees. He also directed that committee will undertake a site visit every three months to monitor progress and ordered submission of the freshly approved agreement with the JV partner to the committee.

The committee also examined the alleged annexation of Shamilaat and forest lands in the FGEHA’s Sky Gardens housing scheme. The committee was informed that the JV partner had transferred the land to FGEHA free of cost; however, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed that no construction or development be carried out on Shamilaat land.

NAB informed the committee that its inquiry into the alleged annexation of Shamilaat land in Mouza Mengal had been reopened after FGEHA issued an addendum including Mouza Mengal in the development works for the Sky Gardens housing scheme.

The FGEHA maintained that the Assistant Collector and Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue (ADCR) had decided the matter in its favour, upholding the authority’s position that the disputed land was settled land and not Shamilaat. The Secretary Housing, however, informed the committee that development work on approximately 2,600 kanals had been halted immediately and assured that no development would take place on the disputed land until final determination of the matter.

The committee was further informed that the question of whether the disputed land constituted Shamilaat or otherwise was pending before the Senior Member Board of Revenue (SMBR). FGEHA also informed the committee that an interpretation of the Supreme Court’s judgment would be sought through the Federal Constitutional Court.

The committee expressed concern over the apparent conduct of the revenue authorities and noted that the concerned officials were not present before the committee. The chairman directed NAB to conduct an impartial, transparent and merit-based inquiry into the matter and urged the Bureau to expedite the investigation.

The committee reiterated that the rights of affectees must be protected and that all housing schemes under FGEHA should be developed strictly in accordance with the law and judicial directions.

The meeting was attended by Senator Hidayatullah Khan, Senator Muhammad Aslam Abro, Senator Khalida Ateeb, Senator Husna Bano and Senator Saifullah Abro.