ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has found irregularities in the allotment process for subsidised plots to federal employees that allowed certain officials to receive more than one plot in various subsidised housing schemes.

In a report submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the bureau suggested that `a mechanism should be put in place with Capital Development Authority (CDA), Defence Housing Authority (DHA), National Police Foundation (NPF) and Federal GovernmentEmployees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) to verify promptly if the member(s) or their families have or had any [subsidised] plot`.

The CDA offers plots to general citizens, the government, its own officials and deserving individuals in planned residential sectors, while the DHA makes allotments mainly to serving and retired army officials on subsidised rates and a limited number of plots are sold to citizens.

The National Police Foundation provides subsidised plots to police of ficials, while the FGEHF develops residential sectors to accommodategovernmentemployees,autonomous bodies, the judiciary and professional bodies such as lawyers and journalists.

Shafgat Mehmood, the convenor of a spe-cial PAC committee has already directed the FGEHF to verify whether applicants for plots have already availed subsidised plots by any provincial government.

On Dec 15, 2016, Mr Mehmood referred this matter to NAB to examine certain audit objections raised by the of fice of the auditor general.

In response, NAB pointed out that the foundation`s executive committee, which includes officials from the Ministry of Housing and Works, approved a quota for the ministry without lawful authority.

According to NAB`s report, the executive committee can make decisions regarding upcoming schemes, but the creation or reduction of quotas is beyond its mandate.The report confirmed allegations levelled by the audit department of some of ficials receiving `more than one plot`, which it called `a gross violation of the policy and procedure`.

According to the report, the FGEHF has already taken up the matter of double allotments with the CDA and the NPF, and such allotments may be cancelled. However, it recommended a centralised database of the entire housing scheme to verif y if any member has previously been allotted a plot.

The bureau also confirmed the audit objections regarding plot transfers by influential individuals from underdeveloped to developed sectors. It said the FGEHF`s approval of such transfers was a violation of the rules.