Dawn News
May 27,2010
ISLAMABAD: The standing committee of the National Assembly on Housing and Works has unearthed an alleged scam in the Prime Ministers Housing Scheme under which over 3,000 kanals of land has been purchased in Islamabad at an exorbitant price.
A recent meeting of the committee was not attended by Housing Minister Rehmatullah Kakar, which prompted the NA pannel to ask the government to take action against the minister for his indifferent attitude.
The committee found that the housing ministry had purchased 3,000 kanals of land from a private firm called M/s Green Tree in Bara Kahu area (Zone-IV) at a rate of Rs950,000 per kanal, but the market price of the land was said to be between Rs400,000 and 500,000 per kanal in the area.
The committee noticed a marked difference in the market value of the land and decided to visit the site in the first week of June to assess the factual position, a member told Dawn.
The committee also decided to convene another meeting next month to give a final decision.
The land was purchased last year in Zone-IV in Bara Kahu when no housing was allowed in the area, but it was permitted by the federal cabinet recently.
The housing scheme is a joint venture of the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) and Green Tree company.
The foundation paid some 65 per cent of the cost at the time of the purchase.
According to the agreement signed between the foundation and the company, the firm had initially offered 1,600 kanals of land on the Simly Dam Road. This was extendable up to 3,000 kanals.
The agreement said: Being the land provider, M/s Green Tree (PVT) Limited will arrange for transfer of clear, title free from all encumbrances and charges, in favour of Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation within 15 days of the agreement.
The agreement further said the land provider would ensure that the entire 3,000 kanals remained reserved for acquisition by the foundation for extension of its scheme up to a period of four months from the date of execution of the agreement and there will be no alienation or disposal of any kind.
Both sides have agreed that per kanal price of the land for the entire piece of 3,000 kanals will be Rs950,000.
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A Transparency International Find.
May 27,2010
ISLAMABAD: The standing committee of the National Assembly on Housing and Works has unearthed an alleged scam in the Prime Ministers Housing Scheme under which over 3,000 kanals of land has been purchased in Islamabad at an exorbitant price.
A recent meeting of the committee was not attended by Housing Minister Rehmatullah Kakar, which prompted the NA pannel to ask the government to take action against the minister for his indifferent attitude.
The committee found that the housing ministry had purchased 3,000 kanals of land from a private firm called M/s Green Tree in Bara Kahu area (Zone-IV) at a rate of Rs950,000 per kanal, but the market price of the land was said to be between Rs400,000 and 500,000 per kanal in the area.
The committee noticed a marked difference in the market value of the land and decided to visit the site in the first week of June to assess the factual position, a member told Dawn.
The committee also decided to convene another meeting next month to give a final decision.
The land was purchased last year in Zone-IV in Bara Kahu when no housing was allowed in the area, but it was permitted by the federal cabinet recently.
The housing scheme is a joint venture of the Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) and Green Tree company.
The foundation paid some 65 per cent of the cost at the time of the purchase.
According to the agreement signed between the foundation and the company, the firm had initially offered 1,600 kanals of land on the Simly Dam Road. This was extendable up to 3,000 kanals.
The agreement said: Being the land provider, M/s Green Tree (PVT) Limited will arrange for transfer of clear, title free from all encumbrances and charges, in favour of Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation within 15 days of the agreement.
The agreement further said the land provider would ensure that the entire 3,000 kanals remained reserved for acquisition by the foundation for extension of its scheme up to a period of four months from the date of execution of the agreement and there will be no alienation or disposal of any kind.
Both sides have agreed that per kanal price of the land for the entire piece of 3,000 kanals will be Rs950,000.
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A Transparency International Find.
