NA adopts housing schemes quota bill

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: National Assembly on Tuesday passed “The Abolition of Discretionary Quotas in Housing Schemes Bill 2011” for abolition of all discretionary quotas in housing schemes in the public sector. 

The Bill was moved by Zahid Hamid of PML-N. The government did not oppose the Bill. Zahid said it was aimed at stopping the designated authority to allot plots in public schemes at his discretion and without merit.

He said unfortunately the plot culture, over period of time, was plaguing the society and now it has become imperative to abolish the discretionary quota. He added that allotment through discretionary quota was simply meant to benefit blue-eyed people.

He also mentioned a Supreme Court decision on the issue and claimed that despite this decision the practice was in vogue and a number of cases had surfaced before the Public Accounts Committee.

However, Zahid said some exemptions have been recorded in the bill to benefit widows, heirs of martyrs and those employees who suffer disabilities during service. He hailed the support of the committee and the housing ministry and expected that provincial government will also enact such legislation.