Three PWD, FGEHA Officials Arrested for Record Manipulation

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On July 20, 2025, three officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) were arrested in Islamabad for allegedly manipulating official records to facilitate illegal land allotments. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) acted on evidence of forged documents used to misappropriate plots worth millions of Pakistani Rupees (PKR). This article delves into the arrests, the systemic corruption in Pakistan’s housing sector, and the need for robust reforms to restore public trust.

The FIA’s Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad launched the operation after receiving complaints about irregularities in FGEHA’s housing schemes, particularly in sectors G-13 and G-14. The arrested officials, identified as PWD’s Assistant Director Malik Tariq and FGEHA officers Saeed Ahmed and Rabia Khan, allegedly altered land records to allot plots to ineligible beneficiaries for hefty bribes. “These officials exploited their positions to undermine a system meant to serve federal employees,” an FIA spokesperson told The News International. The investigation revealed forged signatures and tampered ownership documents, with losses estimated at over 300 million PKR.

This scandal exposes deep-rooted corruption within Pakistan’s public housing framework. The FGEHA, tasked with providing affordable housing to government employees, has long faced accusations of favoritism and mismanagement. In 2024 alone, the FIA registered 12 cases against FGEHA officials for similar fraud, yet convictions remain rare. The manipulation of records not only deprives deserving employees of their rights but also erodes trust in institutions meant to uphold fairness. As one affected applicant, Imran Ali, stated to Dawn, “Years of savings were lost to corrupt officials who sold our dreams for profit.”

The arrests signal a crackdown, but systemic change is overdue. The FIA has vowed to expand its probe, targeting senior officials and private collaborators. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration faces pressure to enforce stricter oversight and digitize land records to curb fraud. With Pakistan’s housing crisis worsening, such corruption exacerbates inequality and fuels public discontent. Swift justice and transparent reforms are essential to ensure institutions like the PWD and FGEHA serve the public, not personal greed.