Latest news with #MinistryofHousingandWorks
Express Tribune
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Govt opens public feedback on Draft National Housing Policy 2025
Listen to article The Ministry of Housing and Works has launched a Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) through the digital platform to gather nationwide feedback on the Draft National Housing Policy 2025. According to an official statement issued Saturday, the draft policy was introduced in March and aims to create a people-centric, inclusive, and sustainable housing framework. It prioritises affordability, urban planning reforms, climate-resilient development, and public-private partnerships. The ministry, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Board (NITB), invites citizens, experts, developers, civil society, and academia to participate in the digital consultation. The goal is to ensure transparency and wide engagement.
Business Recorder
02-08-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
MoH&W, Pak PWD come under scrutiny after financial mismanagement flagged
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Housing and Works and its executing agency, Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD), have come under scrutiny after the Audit Report 2024–25 flagged financial mismanagement, unauthorised payments, non-recoveries, and procedural violations amounting to over Rs3.63 billion. The report highlights that Rs1.1 billion was paid to contractors for various civil works without following the required approval processes or verification protocols. While names of contractors are not mentioned, audit officials noted that the payments were made without completion certificates or evidence of actual progress. Performance guarantees were often not obtained, and there were serious deviations from standard public procurement procedures. An additional Rs225.9 million in public funds was lost due to inordinate delays in the construction of the Islamabad Model College for Boys, Margalla Town. The project, originally approved in 2008 and revised multiple times until 2023, suffered from delayed land possession by CDA and slow disbursement. Audit held the project management responsible for this delay and cost escalation. Another audit para revealed that Rs5.18 million was paid in advance to the CDA for the renovation of bathrooms in the Planning Commission's P Block, but the work remained incomplete even after 18 months. The CDA failed to submit any completion report or provide an account of the funds spent. In a separate finding, encroachment and unauthorised allotment of over 29 kanals of land belonging to International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) was traced back to CDA's actions, which had allotted portions of the university's land to private individuals and retained heavy machinery within the university premises despite court orders and environmental concerns. The report also identifies systemic issues in financial management and tenant oversight. Pak PWD failed to recover rent and utility bills from allottees of government residences, despite multiple reminders and audit observations in past years. The dues had accumulated over time, and neither eviction actions nor late payment penalties were enforced. Audit also noted the lack of updated tenancy records, making accountability more difficult. Despite the scale of observations, no response was submitted by the Ministry or Pak PWD to most audit objections, and Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) meetings were not convened in time. The report recommends fixing responsibility, recovery of outstanding dues, and strict enforcement of financial controls. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
18-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Infrastructure Development & Assets Management Authority Bill passed
ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Housing and Works met in Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA-Foundation), Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat on Thursday, under the chairmanship of Moulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, MNA. The committee confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting held on May 2, 2025, and reviewed the implementation status of earlier recommendations. The committee passed the Pakistan Infrastructure Development and Assets Management Authority Bill, 2024, with amendments and reservations, including provisions to ensure proper adjustment of PWD employees without compromising their rights. The Standing Committee on Housing and Works took serious notice of the ministry's lack of seriousness and its failure to brief the committee on FGEHA-related issues. To address matters including pending payments for land acquisition, built-up property, and other concerns in FGEHA housing projects, the committee formed a sub-committee under the convenor-ship of Anjum Aqeel Khan, MNA, with Seema Mohiuddin Jamali, Ibrar Ahmad, and Mehboob Shah, MNAs, as members. The CEO of PHA-F provided a detailed update on the organisation's structure, staffing, mandate, and housing project progress. He highlighted PHA-F's role as a self-sustaining executing arm of the Ministry of Housing and Works, focused on delivering affordable housing nationwide without government grants. The committee appreciated his efforts and directed the CDA to prioritise development of 17th Avenue and other related projects to facilitate PHA-F's schemes. The meeting was attended by members, Anjum Aqeel Khan, Ibrar Ahmad, Nasir Iqbal Bosal, Anwarul Haq Chaudhary, Syed Samiul Hassan Gilani, Seema Mohiuddin, Dr Darshan, Haji Rasool Bux Chandio, Mehboob Shah, Saleem Rehman, Usman Ali, Muhammad Shabir Ali Qureshi, Shagufta Jumani (online via Zoom, mover on the agenda item No 5), and senior officers including secretary from the Ministry of Housing and Works and its attached department. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Build Pakistan Exhibition and Conference 2025: Housing ministry and Fakt Exhibitions sign MoU
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Housing and Works has entered into a strategic partnership with Fakt Exhibitions (Pvt.) Ltd. to jointly organize the Build Pakistan Exhibition and Conference 2025, aimed at accelerating growth and innovation in the housing, infrastructure, and construction sectors. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed at the Ministry of Housing and Works by Saleem Khan Tanoli, CEO of Fakt Exhibitions (Pvt.) Ltd., and Muhammad Ashfaq Ghumman, Additional Secretary, representing the Ministry. The signing took place in the presence of Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, and Secretary Housing and Works, Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh. Speaking on the occasion, Saleem Khan Tanoli briefed on the objectives and contours of the exhibitions. He highlighted the significance of the project and its potential outcomes, which are deemed critical for infrastructure development, housing sustainability, and industrial growth. Federal Minister, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, while addressing the ceremony, congratulated both teams and termed this signing of the MoU an important milestone in the mission to strengthen Pakistan's housing, infrastructure, and industrial sectors. He called it a timely initiative providing a valuable platform for national and international stakeholders. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Use of ministry's building: Senate panel briefed about non-payment of rent by NAB
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on Housing and Works was briefed on Tuesday about the non-payment of rent since March 2021 by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for the use of a building of the Ministry of Housing and Works in Federal Lodges, Wafaqi Colony, Dhana Singh Wala, Lahore. It was revealed that a total of Rs480 million outstanding has not yet been paid by the NAB to the ministry, and the building has still not been vacated. It was further informed that the decision on the matter is pending with the Prime Minister's Office. The committee found that no agreement had been signed between the two departments. The chairman expressed serious displeasure over the negligence of the Ministry of Housing and Works. Senator Saifullah Abro urged departments to discourage such practices and to maintain clear documentation when signing agreements. The chairman directed both departments to settle the matter within one month, warning that if they fail to implement the committee's decision, the officers involved in the negligence will be summoned and punished. The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works, chaired by Senator Nasir Mehmood, convened Tuesday to identify the reasons for delays in CDA and FGEHA projects, and the unauthorised utilisation of government accommodations by other departments without approval or payment of rent. The chairman of the committee commended the input of all committee members regarding the vacation of illegally possessed accommodations of the Ministry of Housing and Works in Wafaqi Colony, Lahore, by the Punjab Police. He informed that the Punjab Police had illegally occupied the said accommodations since 1990 and had never paid a single penny in lieu of using them. Punjab Police submitted the compliance report over the directions passed by the committee and upon the directions of the committee, the Punjab Police paid Rs1.6 million in rent, up to the year 2024 and assured the committee that the remaining rent would be paid in the upcoming financial year. While briefing on the progress of the construction of Islamabad Jail, the chairman CDA informed that the project was handed over by PWD to CDA with a revised cost of Rs7.4 billion on 26-06-2024. In Phase I, the construction of the Admin Block and boundary wall has been completed up to 98 percent, and roads and infrastructure up to 75 percent. He added that delays in funding from the Ministry of Planning and Development caused the project's delay. The committee expressed concern over the delay in fund disbursement by the Ministry of Finance and other concerned authorities and directed that the ministries of Planning and Development and Finance be summoned to brief the committee on the delay in releasing funds to the Ministry of Interior for CDA projects. The chairman, upon the request of the chairman CDA, recommended for hiring the human resources required to operate the jail. On the issue of malfunctioning of lifts in the Shaheed-e-Millat Building, the chairman CDA stated that only one out of five lifts was operational. Another lift had been repaired, but three were still not working. However, CDA has urgently issued a tender notice of Rs120 million for the repair of the three lifts. The Committee was informed that in the Shaheed-e-Millat Building and other government offices, some lifts are specifically reserved for VIPs/senior officers, and public or government employees are not allowed to use them. The committee took serious notice of this VIP culture in government buildings and directed CDA to eliminate such practices and ensure all lifts are accessible to the general public. The joint secretary, Ministry of Housing and Works, briefed the committee on the seniority list for the allotment of government accommodations to federal employees. He informed the committee that the ministry has a backlog of 26,000 applications, while there are only 17,000 houses available in Islamabad. The committee found the briefing insufficient and directed the ministry to provide a list of illegal allotments and the names of officers involved in such unlawful practices. The committee also ordered the discontinuation of all functions of the Restoration Committee and directed the ministry to submit a report at the next committee meeting. The committee also noted that FGEHA is not awarding tenders uniformly to firms, is not seriously pursuing its projects, and has failed to deliver completed projects to end users. Senator Saifullah Abro criticized the rising costs of FGEHA projects caused by delays on their part, with the burden passed on to the end users. The committee directed FGEHA to submit a list of all ongoing projects, including complete details and associated costs. The meeting was attended by senators, Bilal Ahmed Khan, Saifullah Abro, Husna Bano, Khalida Ateeb, Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, and HidayatUllah Khan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
