CDA Officers Have Illegally Occupied Over 1,000 Govt Houses in Islamabad

More than 1,000 government houses in Islamabad’s prime locations remain under illegal or irregular occupation by CDA officers.

According to audit objections and official documents, 1,083 official residences under the Estate Office pool were supposed to be vacated and returned for fresh allotment. Instead, the houses remained occupied, while the required 5 percent normal rent was also not deposited into the federal treasury.

The case has now reached the Ministry of Housing and the Public Accounts Committee.

The Ministry of Housing has now decided to place the issue before the CDA chairman, while the Public Accounts Committee has recommended that the housing secretary resolve the matter immediately.

Under the Accommodation Allocation Rules 2002, housing pools were to be closed except for a few exempt categories, and residences held by departments receiving funds for their own housing colonies were to be taken back. Despite this, CDA officers reportedly refused to vacate the houses.

Sources said many of these officers had been allotted plots by CDA years ago to build their own homes, but continued to retain the government residences as well.

As a result, thousands of federal employees remained stuck on waiting lists and were forced to live in private rented accommodation.

Documents also suggest that some original allottees have already retired, while in several cases allotments were allegedly transferred to officers’ children. Officials further pointed out that the 5 percent rent collected from occupants was allegedly used by CDA instead of being deposited in the federal treasury as required.

Under Estate Office rules, allotments can be cancelled and possession can be taken back at any time. However, the houses have still not been recovered.

A committee comprising the Joint Secretary Estate and the Director General Estate Office has now been tasked with taking up the matter with CDA and other relevant authorities so that the 1,083 houses can be retrieved and allotted to employees on the general waiting list.