Senate panel demands transparent allotment of 85 journalist plots

Islamabad: A Senate sub-committee has raised serious questions over the transparency of residential plot allotments to journalists and media workers in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, seeking records of journalists who were allegedly allotted two plots under previous housing schemes to prevent duplication.

The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting, chaired by Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, directed the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to ensure that eligible journalists are considered strictly according to seniority and that the allotment process remains transparent.

The committee was informed that 85 plots of different categories are available for journalists under Phase-II of the FGEHA scheme. According to the Director General FGEHA, a 2 percent quota had been allocated for journalists and media workers in Phase-I, while 1 percent has been reserved for journalists under Phase-II. Phase-I allotments have already been completed.

The FGEHA informed the committee that applicants for the Phase-II quota must have at least 20 years of professional experience, be serving in Islamabad or Rawalpindi, while the concerned newspaper must have remained on the Central Media List for the preceding three years. The spouse of an applicant must also not have previously been allotted a plot in Islamabad or Rawalpindi.

The DG FGEHA said the authority had provided the list of eligible applicants and that allotments would be made on the basis of seniority.

However, media representatives raised concerns over the allotment process, particularly regarding applications submitted under the Bara Kahu scheme. They alleged that the first-come, first-served criterion was not followed in that process and expressed apprehension that the same issue could arise during Phase-II allotments.

The representatives also highlighted the cases of 35 applicants who had approached the Wafaqi Mohtasib and had reportedly been awaiting resolution since 2004. They demanded that the authorities obtain complete lists of journalists and media workers who had previously received two plots to ensure transparency and eliminate the possibility of duplicate allotments.

The eligibility of employees of Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and Pakistan Television (PTV) also came under discussion. The DG FGEHA informed the committee that APP employees were members of the Islamabad Press Club, while PTV employees were not.

Senator Waqar Mehdi directed the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to move the requisite summary to the Prime Minister’s Office for resolution of outstanding issues concerning journalists. He also directed that APP representatives be invited to the next meeting to discuss the eligibility issue of its employees.

The DG FGEHA assured the sub-committee that the cases of the 35 applicants would be taken up with the relevant authorities.

The sub-committee directed that an updated report of the Plot Selection Committee for Journalists be furnished within 15 days and decided to review progress on all outstanding issues after one month.

The meeting was attended by Senators Jan Muhammad and Abdul Shakoor Khan, along with representatives of the Parliamentary Reporters Association of Pakistan, National Press Club, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and other media workers.