Under the chairmanship of Azma Bokhari, Minister for Information and Culture Punjab, an important meeting of the Punjab Journalists Housing Foundation was held to review the procedure for scrutinizing applications received for the Journalist Housing Society Phase-II.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Information Syed Tahir Raza Hamdani, Director General Public Relations Farid Ahmad, President Lahore Press Club Arshad Ansari, senior journalists Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami and Salman Ghani, and representatives from RUDA including Abid Latif.
The meeting decided to establish a Scrutiny Committee to examine the received applications and submit its report within 15 days. The Committee comprises Farid Ahmad, Arshad Ansari, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami, and Salman Ghani. The committee will review applications from both Lahore Press Club members and non-member journalists.
During the discussions, the payment mechanism was clarified, plot payments will be made in monthly installments of Rs. 15,000 over seven years, with the remaining balance payable as a lump sum with the final installment.
Azma Bokhari proposed that only one plot should be allotted per family to ensure that the maximum number of deserving journalists benefit from the scheme. She further suggested that in cases where both husband and wife are journalists and submit separate applications, the plot could be allotted in the wife’s name to promote women empowerment.
President Lahore Press Club Arshad Ansari raised a concern about how such allotments would be managed if couples later separate or divorce. Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Shami suggested developing a clear mechanism for joint allotment or transfer in such cases, while Salman Ghani proposed reviewing cases on a case-to-case basis. The meeting agreed that all husband-wife applications would be carefully examined based on facts and merit.
Azma Bokhari stated that the Punjab Government is set to allot 3,200 plots to journalists, bringing the long-awaited dream of owning a home to its final stages. She confirmed that the Scrutiny Committee’s report will be submitted to the Chief Minister of Punjab, who will personally allot plots to journalists. She emphasized that the Punjab Government remains committed to the welfare of journalists and will continue taking practical steps to resolve their issues.