ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works was informed on Monday that National Construction Limited (NCL) and Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) are going to be merged for better service delivery.

The NCL is a national construction company of the Ministry of Housing and Works.

The standing committee, which met here with Senator Haji Hidayatullah in the chair, was given a comprehensive briefing on NCL and other agenda items by the officials of the housing and works ministry.

The meeting was told that all legal formalities have been completed for NCL`s merger with the FGEHA and the matter is under consideration with the Executive Board of FGEHA for approval.Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC) and the Ministry of Housing and Works have recommended the NCL`s acquisition and merger with the FGEHA.

The ministry officials informed the committee that currently NCL was mainly engaged with projects related to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) in Islamabad, Chashma and Gilgit.

The committee was told that total value of these projects amounts to Rs1,821 million.

It was revealed that currently NCL, due to numerous factors is bearing cumulative losses worth crores of rupees.

Earlier, the committee discussed development schemes in sector G-14/1 on acquired land. The committee stressed the need for stopping all such development schemes, which are being carried out for those, who are living illegally on acquired land.Showing serious concern, the committee formed a sub-committee headed by Senator Saifullah Abro to investigate the matter in detail.

Discussing details of the Estate Office`s criteria for allotments and measures being taken to vacate illegally occupied property; the committee was informed that accommodations were strictly allocated on the basis of merit.

It was asserted that as per Supreme Court directions relaxation of rules under Rule 29A of the Accommodation Allocation Rules, 2002 will not often be exercised, except in the case of hardship.

The committee was also informed that 2,800 illegally occupied properties have been vacated so f ar. The committee recommended to the ministry of housing to develop high rises. Staff Reporter