Islamabad, 24th August 2026: The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information & Broadcasting met today at Islamabad. The meeting was chaired by Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi and attended by the Senators Jan Muhammad and Abdul Shakoor Khan. Representatives from Parliamentary Reporter Association of Pakistan (PRA), National Press Club, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and media workers also attended the meeting and submitted their concerns before the Sub-Committee.The Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information & Broadcasting met today in Islamabad to review the rules, eligibility criteria and procedure adopted for the allotment of residential plots to journalists and media persons in the Islamabad/Rawalpindi area.
At the outset, the Convener expressed concern over the delay in the constitution of the Sub-Committee and convening of its inaugural meeting. The Director General, Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) informed that the delay in issuance of the minutes of main Committee had affected the ability of the concerned departments to proceed with the matter.
The D.G. FGEHA, briefed the Sub-Committee on the allotment policy under the FGEHA schemes. He informed that a 2% quota had been allocated for journalists and media workers in Phase-I, with 1% reserved for journalists under Phase-II. He informed that Phase-I allotments had already been made sucessfully.
The Sub-Committee was informed that applicants were required to have at least 20 years of professional experience and be serving in Islamabad/Rawalpindi. The concerned newspaper was required to have remained on the Central Media List for the preceding three years. Furthermore, the spouse of an applicant should not have previously been allotted a plot in Islamabad/Rawalpindi.
The D.G. FGEHA stated that the list of eligible applicants was provided by FGEHA and that allotments will be made on the basis of seniority. A total of 85 plots of different categories are available under Phase-II.
Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi directed that all eligible journalists and media persons should be considered strictly according to their seniority and that the process should not be unnecessarily delayed. He directed the Ministry to accord priority to the matter and said that the Sub-Committee would review progress after one month.
Media representatives informed the Sub-Committee that a large number of journalists had applied for plots under the Bara Kahu scheme, where the criterion of first-come, first-served had reportedly not been followed and it is expected that the same criterion will not followed in Phase-II.
The representatives also highlighted the cases of 35 applicants who had approached the Wafaqi Mohtasib and had reportedly been awaiting resolution since 2004. They urged the Sub-Committee to obtain the lists of journalists and media persons who had been allotted two plots under previous schemes to ensure transparency and prevent duplication.
The issue of eligibility of employees of Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) and Pakistan Television (PTV) was also discussed. The D.G. FGEHA informed the Sub-Committee that APP employees were members of the Islamabad Press Club, whereas PTV employees were not.
The Convener directed the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to move the requisite summary to PM Office for the resolution of outstanding issues of journalists. He also directed that APP be invited to the next meeting to discuss the matter relating to its employees.
The D.G. FGEHA assured the Sub-Committee that the cases of the 35 applicants would be taken up with the relevant authorities. The Sub-Committee decided to review the progress on all outstanding matters after one month and directed that an updated report of Plot Selection Committee for Journalists be furnished within fifteen dates.
