Steps be taken to make PM’s housing scheme reality: Senate body

[Salman]

ISLAMABAD: Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works Shahi Syed on Wednesday asked the government to take steps for making the Prime Minister`s housing project a reality.
The prices of houses in the scheme ranging between Rs 1.7 to 2.9 million would be unaffordable for the poor, so the mark-up rate on bank loans for the purpose should be reduced, he added.
He was chairing a committee meeting here, which was attended by members Mrs Suriya Amiruddin, Abdul Nabi Bangash, Hamza and Saeed Mandokhel. Minister for H&W Usman Ibrahim also attended the meeting.
The managing directors of National Construction Limited (NCL) and Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) told the meeting that under the scheme, 500,000 housing units, 500 each, would be built in 10,000 colonies.
Shahi Syed said though the project was good and aimed at meeting housing needs of the poor, but it was announced without the Prime Minister's approval and any feasibility study. Acquisition of land was required from the provinces, he said and added that the Finance Division had also not earmarked funds for the project.
Minister Usman Ibrahim said a steering committee had constituted under the Prime Minister's directive, to streamline the scheme, under which the low income people would get shelters within their purchasing powers. Three to five marla houses would be built under the scheme.
The committee members obsreved that members of parliament and media should also be included in the steering committee to make the scheme transparent.
They voiced concern over FC personnel occupying Kuchlak Road scheme land in Quetta and police possessing government flats in the Federal Capital.
Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash said thousands of kanals of government land land in the Federal Capital was being occupied by land mafia. He suggested that the government land in Zone 4 should be used for the low income housing project.
Referring to the temporary appointment of Director General PWD, the members directed that inexperienced officers were posted in the past also. They were concerned that PWD employees were not being paid salaries.
Shahi syed directed the Housing Ministry that an experienced person from NESPAK or Army Engineering Corps should be appointed as DG PWD.
Minister Usman Ibrahim said a portion of the financing cost would be borne by the government and for the purpose Rs 3.5 billion had been allocated in the budget.
He said 80 per cent houses under the scheme would be for the general public and 20 per cent for the government employees.
He said the total estimated cost of of the pilot project was Rs 5 billion, with Rs 1.7 million average cost for a three-marla house and Rs 2.9 million for a five-marla one.
Self-finance scheme should be clubbed with the PM's housing finance scheme by making it mandatory for the banks/DFIs to give preference to the allottees of the scheme, he added.
Managing Director PHA Tariq Pirzada briefed the committee regarding plots reserved in G-13 and G-14 sectors for the amenities purpose and the problems arisen because of the railway line located in the middle of sectors. He said that 10 acre land in Kurri Road area had also been retrieved from the illegal occupants.