News Detail
Event Title: Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, Convener Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting presiding over a meeting of the committee at PTV Headquarters, Islamabad
Event Date: 2026-10-20
Senate Sub-Committee Reviews Allotment of Plots and Flats to Journalists and Media Workers under Government Schemes; Recommended to be facilitated by Prime Minister Loan Schemes
A meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting was held at Pakistan Television (PTV) Headquarters, Islamabad, under the convenership of Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi. Senator Jan Muhammad also attended the meeting.
The third meeting of the Sub-Committee was convened to oversee the timely and transparent distribution of plots and flats reserved for journalists and media workers by the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA).
Welcoming the participants, the Convener noted that this was the final meeting of the Sub-Committee. He said that he had also received the final list of journalists who had been allotted plots so far.
The representative of the journalists informed the meeting that the list of journalists pertained to Drive-II. He further stated that the efforts are now focus on Drive-I at Bara Kahu.
The Convener said that the matter would be taken up with the Ministry of Housing and Works, adding that considerable progress had been made. The journalists present appreciated the Sub-Committee's efforts and recommended an extension of its tenure to ensure the resolution of pending issues. The Convener also acknowledged Senator Jan Muhammad's contributions and efforts for the welfare of journalists.
The Convener Sub-Committee also recommended that the list of journalists for plot allotments has already been sent to the CDA must be verified as a soon as possible to avoid the dual allotment to the journalist.
Officials from the Ministry of Housing and Works briefed the meeting on the Sub-Committee's recommendations and progress made by the departments concerned. The constitution of a grievance committee was also recommended to address complaints and issues relating to the allotment of plots and flats to journalists and media workers.
The journalists' representative further proposed that the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) should also be included in the relevant list of beneficiaries under the plot allotment schemes.
It was observed during the meeting that plots had last been allotted to journalists approximately two decades ago, highlighting the need for renewed efforts to address their housing needs.
The Convener also recommended that journalists affiliated with press clubs should be provided access to the Prime Minister's loan facility to help meet their housing requirements.