09-27-2010, 12:16 PM
KARACHI - Pakistan Railway workers, who have paid their total dues of plots at Jumma Goth, are still waiting for the allotments. The plots were announced to be leased by the current Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani in 80s when he was serving as railway minister in General Zia-ul-Haq era.
Talking to The Nation, President Pakistan Railway Labour Federation Manzoor Ahmed Razi appealed to the government to handover the plots to the allottees who have been suffering since long. He lamented that no government since Zia’s regime has taken this issue seriously despite the fact that the poor worker is still suffering a lot.
In 1986, Yousaf Raza Gilani as Railway Minister had launched a housing scheme in Jumma Goth, located between Port Qasim and Landhi, namely Jumma Goth No-15 Gulshan-e-Yousaf Housing Scheme for the railway workers.
He said in 1986, total 3,500 workers out of 10,000 got their plots through Lucky Draw held at Railway Football Stadium in Karachi. According to the scheme, the winning workers were awarded with 120 yards plot each on which they had to pay Rs7,800 in four instalments and Rs15,000 for the plot measuring 240 yards.
The scheme was initiated for the workers from grade-1 to 16, and the land was the property of railway department but later the Railway Housing Society (RHS) bought the said land from the department and had paid the full payment in this regard.
The plots were to be allotted to the winners of the lucky draw after completion of the development works, and the works had been completed in 1990. But so far despite passage of more than two decades, the plots have not been handed over to the workers.
Talking to The Nation, President Pakistan Railway Labour Federation Manzoor Ahmed Razi appealed to the government to handover the plots to the allottees who have been suffering since long. He lamented that no government since Zia’s regime has taken this issue seriously despite the fact that the poor worker is still suffering a lot.
In 1986, Yousaf Raza Gilani as Railway Minister had launched a housing scheme in Jumma Goth, located between Port Qasim and Landhi, namely Jumma Goth No-15 Gulshan-e-Yousaf Housing Scheme for the railway workers.
He said in 1986, total 3,500 workers out of 10,000 got their plots through Lucky Draw held at Railway Football Stadium in Karachi. According to the scheme, the winning workers were awarded with 120 yards plot each on which they had to pay Rs7,800 in four instalments and Rs15,000 for the plot measuring 240 yards.
The scheme was initiated for the workers from grade-1 to 16, and the land was the property of railway department but later the Railway Housing Society (RHS) bought the said land from the department and had paid the full payment in this regard.
The plots were to be allotted to the winners of the lucky draw after completion of the development works, and the works had been completed in 1990. But so far despite passage of more than two decades, the plots have not been handed over to the workers.