In the capital’s real estate sector, timely delivery of infrastructure is the bedrock of investor and allottee confidence. However, after a prolonged wait stretching over 17 years, the frustrated allottees of Green Enclave-I are officially urging the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) to transfer the project’s infrastructure development to the Defence Housing Authority (DHA).
This demand stems from an escalating lack of progress on the ground, leaving thousands of registered government employees waiting for the possession of their plots despite having cleared their financial obligations.
The Historical Context: A 17-Year Waiting Period
The foundational timeline of Green Enclave-I reveals a deeply protracted development cycle. According to the affected allottees, FGEHA initiated the registration of thousands of government employees for this housing scheme in 2009, operating on a first-come, first-served basis.
Following the initial registration fee deposits across various residential categories, it took an additional seven years before the authority formally allotted plots to the members in 2016.
Accompanying these allotments was a formalized schedule for installment payments. The allottees have maintained that they fulfilled their end of the agreement by paying all due installments, operating under the assumption that the infrastructure development would conclude within a reasonable, standard timeframe.
However, years after the financial commitments were met, the physical development at the project site remains critically incomplete, and FGEHA has yet to hand over the physical possession of the plots.
Brief about Green Enclave 1 Islamabad
Green Enclave-I is a major residential project initiated by FGEHA to provide affordable housing primarily for federal employees. Strategically located in the Bhara Kahu area near the Murree Expressway, the society spans approximately 3,375 kanals of land.
The master plan is divided into five distinct blocks (Block A to E), accommodating over 3,200 residential plots. To cater to different government pay scales and investment capacities, the project originally offered five main plot categories:
- Category I: 50 x 90 (Approx. 1 Kanal)
- Category II: 40 x 80 (Approx. 14 Marla)
- Category III: 35 x 70 (Approx. 10 Marla)
- Category IV: 30 x 60 (Approx. 7 Marla)
- Category V: 25 x 50 (Approx. 5 Marla)
Despite early balloting and plot allocations, the project has faced severe developmental hurdles—including land disputes, litigation, and contractor issues—leaving the on-ground infrastructure critically delayed.
Below is the official map of FGEHA Green Enclave 1 Islamabad:
FGEHA Green Enclave I Master Plan
Federal Ombudsman’s Intervention and Institutional Inaction
The administrative stagnation reached a point where the matter was escalated to the office of the Federal Ombudsman three months ago. Taking direct notice of the systemic complaints regarding the prolonged delays, the ombudsman issued a clear directive to the housing authority. FGEHA was ordered to provide a definitive, time-bound development schedule approved by the competent authority and to keep the complainants informed.
Despite this high-level intervention, ground realities remain largely unchanged. On March 9, a delegation representing the allottees revisited the ombudsman’s office to present their ongoing grievances, highlighting that thousands of plot owners are still waiting for infrastructure development to simply resume. Allottees have also alleged that their attempts to meet the Director General of FGEHA to present these concerns have been repeatedly deferred.
The Rationale for a DHA Takeover
The demand to involve DHA is not without structural precedent within FGEHA’s own portfolio. The allottees have pointed out that FGEHA has previously leveraged the operational capacity of external authorities to rescue delayed projects.
Notable precedents include:
- The transfer of the Park Road Housing Project to DHA for infrastructure development.
- The assignment of development work in sectors F-14 and F-15 to the National Logistics Cell (NLC).
An allottee, Mushtaq Ahmed, emphasized that transferring Green Enclave-I to DHA represents a highly practical solution. The underlying argument is that DHA possesses a proven, demonstrable track record of completing complex housing projects efficiently. Entrusting the project to an institution with robust developmental machinery could finally steer the long-delayed scheme toward completion.
Human Impact and Appeal to the Prime Minister
The delays have transitioned from a mere administrative hurdle to a profound human issue. Many registered members, having invested their life savings and retirement funds, have passed away while waiting for their homes, while others are now in the later stages of their lives, still unable to realize their investments.
In a final bid to break the deadlock, the allottees have issued a direct appeal to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. They are requesting his immediate intervention to ensure the early completion of the project and the immediate handover of possession, allowing thousands of government employees to finally construct their homes.
Below is a copy of the news clipping published in The Dawn News regarding the matter:
