Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon was granted a residential plot under a government quota in an unusually short span of two months, prompting concerns about the transparency and equity of the public housing allocation system.
Documents reveal that Memon secured a 14-marla plot, measuring 40 by 80 feet, located in Sector D-12/3, a well-developed residential area of Islamabad. This allotment occurred significantly faster than the typical multi-year waiting periods experienced by many civil servants and ordinary citizens.
Memon, a Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) officer, submitted his application for a Category-II plot on April 20, 2023, under a quota designated for Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) employees. A recommendation from the Islamabad Chief Commissioner’s Office followed on May 6, 2023, endorsing his request.
Subsequently, on June 2, 2023, the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) Member Estate issued a letter to the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA), making Plot No. 366 in Sector D-12/3 available for allocation. This allotment was carried out under the Islamabad Land Disposal Regulations (ILDR) 2005, which permit the CDA to allocate 10 percent of plots to federal government employees.
Following the recommendation and relevant policies, the FGEHA offered the plot to Memon on June 21, 2023. The expedited processing of this application has raised suspicions of preferential treatment and sparked debate over whether the public housing system operates on merit or influence.
While numerous government employees endure long waits for similar allotments, this case has intensified scrutiny of whether established rules are consistently applied or selectively enforced for influential officials. The FGEHA clarified that a 2.5 percent quota is reserved for employees of professional bodies, including ICT staff, and that allotments are made based on recommendations from relevant institutions.
Despite multiple attempts, neither Memon nor the Chief Commissioner’s Office provided comments on the matter. This incident underscores ongoing concerns about discretionary allotments under official quotas, which have historically faced criticism regarding transparency and fairness in the distribution of public land.
