Swift allotment of plot to Islamabad DC raises eyebrows

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon has been allotted a plot under a government quota in record time of two months, raising questions over transparency and equal opportunity in public housing system.

According to documents, Memon was allotted a plot in Sector D-12 within roughly two months of applying, a timeline significantly faster than the years-long waiting periods typically faced by thousands of civil servants and citizens.

According to the documents, the 14-marla plot, measuring 40×80 feet, is located in Sector D-12/3, one of Islamabad’s developed residential areas.

Documents show Memon, a Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) officer, applied for a Category-II plot on April 20, 2023, under a quota reserved for employees of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

A recommendation letter from the Islamabad Chief Commissioner’s Office was received on May 6, 2023, supporting the application, the documents said.

Subsequently, a letter dated June 2, 2023, from the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Member Estate was sent to the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA), placing Plot No. 366 in Sector D-12/3 at the authority’s disposal.

The allocation was made under provisions of the Islamabad Land Disposal Regulations (ILDR) 2005, which allow the CDA to allocate 10 per cent of plots for federal government employees.

Based on the recommendation and applicable policy, the housing authority offered the plot to Memon on June 21, 2023.

The unusually swift processing has triggered questions over preferential treatment and fairness in the allocation of public housing resources, with critics questioning whether the system operates on merit or influence.

While many government employees continue to wait for years for similar allotments, the case has intensified debate over whether established rules are applied uniformly or selectively for influential officials.

An FGEHA statement said a 2.5 per cent quota is reserved for employees of professional bodies, including ICT staff, and allotments are made on the recommendation of relevant institutions.

Memon and the Chief Commissioner’s Office did not comment on the matter despite repeated attempts to get versions.

The case highlights the process of discretionary allotments under official quotas, which have in the past drawn scrutiny over transparency and fairness in the distribution of public land