Senate Seeks Rs63M Rent from NAB Courts

Islamabad, August 13, 2025, 04:35 PM PKT — The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works, chaired by Senator Nasir Mehmood, has issued a scathing critique, spotlighting the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Courts’ occupation of the Federal Lodge, Wafaqi Colony, Lahore, without rent payment since March 2021, amassing arrears of Rs63.378 million, as per official reports. The committee has set a one-week deadline for payment, threatening eviction if unmet, while flagging long-standing irregularities, unpaid rents, and stalled housing projects, demanding strict compliance and accountability.

The Housing Ministry cited unanswered memoranda from May 14, June 24, and July 1, 2025, with the Law Ministry’s July 9 plea to waive rent and transfer title rejected, insisting on immediate payment. The Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHAF) faces a two-week deadline to formalize a 26-year occupation agreement for Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat space and start rent. The Lifestyle Residency project remains delayed due to a weak joint venture partner, Progressive-Granite disputes, and the contractor’s death in December 2022, with failed tenders deferred for an audit report. The Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) rejected a BS-19 director post, focusing on existing optimization. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) reported 316 inquiries and 22 cases on housing corruption over a decade, with 216 closed, 80 ongoing, and 18 FIRs challaned. Web context on housing disputes shows persistent issues, while posts found on X reflect frustration—some demand action, others doubt enforcement. Critically, the narrative of “accountability push” may mask systemic inertia—web data hints at past delays, and X sentiment suggests distrust in resolution, pointing to ongoing challenges.