Daily Times

Sir: The much awaited balloting of the DHA Peshawar took place on March 4, 2016 in one of the most disappointing ways. The applications for 10-marla and one-kanal plots were collected through banks till December 5, 2015 along with a handsome amount of non-refundable money. After that there was almost no system to even acknowledge whether the applicant’s money had been received by the DHA Peshawar or not, although the DHA Peshawar claims that applicants were sent an SMS. But reportedly, many did not receive any SMS/acknowledgement letter etc.

There was no fixed date announced when the balloting would take place, and when one could try to contact the DHA Peshawar to confirm this. The phone numbers were either not responding or were busy all the time, and even if one could get a chance to connect, they were simply unable to tell when the balloting would take place. Surprisingly, the balloting did not take place openly and a few days before the balloting, the applicants were informed reportedly via social media that they would be notified through SMS. Suddenly (maybe due to the pressure of applicants), the DHA Peshawar announced that the candidates could find the status of balloting by putting their CNIC number on the DHA Peshawar’s website. Interestingly, the website not only regrets on correct CNIC number but also posts the regret message when some different or an incorrect CNIC number is mistakenly entered.

All this haphazard way of conducting the balloting seemingly creates doubts in the mind, especially after various scams have been reported in different DHAs of the country. DHA is still a very well reputed organisation, and I therefore humbly suggest that the concerned authorities should take a notice, and instruct the DHA Peshawar to announce the DHA Peshawar balloting of March 4, 2016 null and void. It needs to first announce the number of plots and re-ballot on a pre-decided day in front of all the applicants who wish to be present at a certain place (or at the DHA Peshawar office) to witness the balloting so that all the doubts are set aside and transparency is maintained. The applicants must be acknowledged for the receipt of amount by courier, and in case of overseas Pakistanis, the acknowledgement must be sent to them by e-mail as well as on their addresses abroad, or in Pakistan by courier and the same should be followed with successful and unsuccessful applicants after balloting. After the balloting, the unsuccessful applicants’ money should be refunded. Recently, the PAF did one of the finest balloting for their Fazaia Housing Scheme in Karachi where the balloting was conducted openly and unsuccessful applicants’ deposits were refunded.

M ASIF

Karachi