The Caretaker Minister for Housing, Urban Development, and Public Health Engineering, Barrister Syed Azfar Ali Nasir, along with Special Secretary (Housing) Saleha Saeed, visited the Directorate General of Punjab Housing & Town Planning Agency (PHATA). During the visit, they were briefed by DG PHATA Khalid Nazir and other officials.
The minister expressed his commitment to the welfare of the people and noted that the department's poor performance was due to negligence and incompetence. He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the agency's failure to provide adequate housing facilities to low-income families. As a result, he directed DG PHATA to visit the ongoing schemes in districts and complete their development within the stipulated period.
The minister further stated that the recruitment process for vacant posts should be completed soon, and PHATA should adopt a modern business model. He emphasized the need to make the balloting system of houses and eligibility criteria for acquiring houses clear and transparent.
Moreover, the minister ordered the resolution of court cases related to all housing schemes and decided to audit the approval of private schemes by PHATA. He stressed that all approved private housing societies should be scrutinized on merit, and strict action would be taken against officers sanctioning in violation of the law. The minister also asserted that zero-tolerance would be shown against corruption, and investigations would be conducted on the corruption of the past.
The minister emphasized the need for reforms in PHATA, stating that those who work will stay, and those who don't will have to go. He expressed his determination to work until the last minute to address the housing issues in Punjab and provide better living standards for the people.
