Nearly 8,000 federal government employees occupying official residences across Pakistan have been identified as rent defaulters, prompting the Estate Office to initiate recovery measures and warn that government accommodation allotments could be cancelled over unpaid dues.
According to documents cited in a media report, a total of 7,973 federal employees have outstanding rent payments for government-owned or managed residences in different cities. Karachi accounts for the largest number of reported cases, followed by Islamabad and Lahore.
The figures highlight a significant rent recovery challenge for the federal government, which provides residential accommodation to eligible employees under established housing allocation rules.
Karachi Records Highest Number of Rent Defaulters
Karachi has reported 5,317 federal employees who have failed to clear their government house rent dues. This represents approximately 66.7% of the total 7,973 reported cases.
Islamabad ranks second, with 2,169 employees identified as rent defaulters. Lahore has recorded 404 cases, while Peshawar and Quetta have reported 57 and 26 cases, respectively.
The city-wise breakdown is as follows:
| City | Rent Defaulters |
|---|---|
| Karachi | 5,317 |
| Islamabad | 2,169 |
| Lahore | 404 |
| Peshawar | 57 |
| Quetta | 26 |
| Total | 7,973 |
The figures indicate that Karachi and Islamabad account for the overwhelming majority of reported cases. However, the documents cited in the media report do not specify the total outstanding rent amount or the period covered by the arrears.
Estate Office Initiates Rent Recovery Measures
According to sources cited in the report, the Estate Office has issued notices to employees who have failed to pay rent for their government residences.
The notices form part of an effort to recover outstanding payments and enforce the financial obligations attached to government accommodation.
The Estate Office operates under the administrative framework of the Ministry of Housing and Works. Its responsibilities include allocating federal government residences, maintaining housing records, recovering rent and taking action against unauthorised occupants.
The ministry also oversees the fixation and recovery of rent for government-owned, hired and requisitioned buildings.
Government Housing Rules Allow Cancellation Over Unpaid Rent
Pakistan’s Accommodation Allocation Rules, 2002, contain provisions dealing specifically with non-payment of rent.
Under Rule 21, an allotment becomes liable to cancellation when an employee accumulates rent arrears for four consecutive months. The rules also provide for one month’s notice before eviction.
However, the cancellation and eviction process may be withdrawn if the employee provides documentary evidence within the notice period showing that rent was paid regularly or that non-payment occurred for reasons beyond their control and clears the outstanding dues.
These provisions establish the regulatory basis for action against employees who fail to meet their rent obligations.
The full rules are available through the Ministry of Housing and Works.
Rent Recovery Raises Questions About Housing Management
The reported 7,973 cases have brought attention to the management of government residential accommodation and the recovery of public-sector rental dues.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Works, its responsibilities include managing federal government residential properties and ensuring the recovery of rent from occupied buildings.
The ministry’s official website provides information about government housing policies and administrative responsibilities.
The Estate Office’s recovery efforts will now focus on employees with outstanding payments. Those who fail to comply with applicable requirements could face cancellation of their residential allotments under the relevant rules.
The latest figures, however, do not establish how much money remains unpaid or how many employees have already responded to the recovery notices.
