A National Assembly standing committee has recommended legislation to establish a Federal Government Real Estate Management Authority, aimed at improving the management and economic utilisation of state-owned properties across Pakistan.
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The recommendation was made during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, chaired by Malik Ibrar Ahmad. The committee unanimously approved the proposed bill without amendments and forwarded it for passage by the National Assembly.
Members of the committee highlighted concerns over widespread encroachments on government land and the failure of many public entities to generate adequate economic returns from valuable state assets. They stressed the need for a specialised institution capable of managing federal properties more effectively.
During the meeting, Malik Ibrar Ahmad said several government-owned properties had been occupied illegally over the years. He referred to railway land that was recovered following intervention by the Standing Committee on Railways, noting that urban expansion and commercial development had significantly increased the value of such properties.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat met today under the Chairmanship of Mr. Ibrar Ahmed, MNA at Parliament House, Islamabad.#NACommittee @PTVNewsOfficial https://t.co/Sz1XShpAlZ pic.twitter.com/6YdsG0hNmR
— Committees of NA (@NA_Committees) June 2, 2026
The cabinet secretary informed the committee that the federal government owns extensive commercial, urban and rural properties across the country. These assets are currently managed by different ministries, divisions and government organisations, but many are underutilised or affected by encroachments.
According to officials, previous efforts to improve returns from government properties have largely been unsuccessful. The proposed authority would be responsible for managing, leasing and overseeing federal properties in accordance with government approvals, with the objective of maximising economic benefits.
The committee also reviewed several other legislative proposals. It approved the Archival Material (Preservation and Export Control) Amendment Bill, 2026, with a change granting the prime minister authority to constitute an advisory committee responsible for decisions regarding the preservation of archival materials.
In addition, lawmakers recommended the Abandoned Properties (Management) Amendment Bill, 2026, and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026, without amendments.
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Officials said the legislative changes are intended to improve governance, enhance administrative efficiency and align legal frameworks with institutional reforms following judicial guidance and cabinet decisions.