ISLAMABAD (special crosspondent) – A Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information & Broadcasting convened in Islamabad on August 24, 2026, to conduct a comprehensive review of the rules, eligibility criteria, and procedures governing the allotment of residential plots to media personnel in the Islamabad and Rawalpindi region. The proceedings were chaired by Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, with Senators Jan Muhammad and Abdul Shakoor Khan in attendance.

Representatives from the Parliamentary Reporter Association of Pakistan (PRA), the National Press Club, and the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) participated in the session to present their grievances and concerns. Much like the Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh Reviews BFC Islamabad First Year Performance Achievements report, this meeting emphasized the necessity of administrative accountability and efficient service delivery.

Review of Allotment Criteria and FGEHA Briefing

During the briefing, the Director General (DG) of the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) outlined the current allotment policy. The DG reported that a 2% quota was allocated to journalists and media workers in Phase-I, while Phase-II reserves 1% for the same cohort. According to the FGEHA, Phase-I allotments have concluded successfully.

The current criteria mandate that applicants possess a minimum of 20 years of professional experience and be actively serving within the Islamabad/Rawalpindi jurisdiction. Additionally, the applicant’s respective media organization must have maintained its status on the Central Media List for the preceding three years. A core requirement for eligibility is that neither the applicant nor their spouse should have previously received a government plot in the capital region. The FGEHA confirmed that 85 plots are available for distribution under Phase-II, which will be awarded based on seniority.

Addressing Transparency and Historical Concerns

Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi instructed the authorities to ensure that the selection process adheres strictly to seniority and avoids procedural delays. Media representatives expressed skepticism, citing previous inconsistencies in the Bara Kahu scheme where the ‘first-come, first-served’ protocol was allegedly ignored. They requested that the committee investigate 35 long-standing cases pending before the Wafaqi Mohtasib since 2004, and called for a full audit of past allotments to identify individuals who may have received multiple plots.

The committee also deliberated on the eligibility status of employees from the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and Pakistan Television (PTV). While APP staff are members of the Islamabad Press Club, PTV employees are not, creating a disparity in eligibility access. Senator Mehdi directed the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to prepare a summary for the Prime Minister’s Office to resolve these outstanding classification issues. Furthermore, the committee requested that APP representatives attend the upcoming session to clarify their employees’ status.

The session concluded with a directive for the Plot Selection Committee to submit an updated progress report within fifteen days. The Sub-Committee has scheduled a follow-up meeting in one month to review the status of all discussed grievances, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring equitable housing opportunities for the press fraternity.