ISLAMABAD: Residences for low income people soon

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

Associated Press of Pakistan
Minister for Housing and Works Rehmatullah Kakar has expressed the confidence that the dream of low income group to have own homes would soon come true as the government has initiated work on various long and short term housing projects.

Talking to media, he said soon after taking over the charge the government announced to construct one million houses.

Following a short-term strategy, the government has constructed 10,300 houses, which is double of the set target of 5,000 houses, he said. Construction of houses has been started in sectors G-10, G-11 and I-11 in Islamabad. Construction of housing units is underway in Karachi in Gulshan-e-Memar, scheme 33 and Mono Got areas, Hayatabad in Peshawar, in the Federal colony in Lahore and along the Chaman highway area in Quetta.

About 3000 kanals of land in Bara Kahu has been purchased, where flats and plots would be built and allotted to government employees, general public and journalists, Kakar said.

The allotment would be on `no profit and no loss basis'. About two percent quota for journalists and non-journalists has been allocated in each of the federal schemes. An agreement to construct about 5250 houses and flats in Karachi would be signed with private sector within next few days, the minister said.

He said that investors are showing interest in Pakistan's housing sector, adding that two foreign companies want to build about 13500 houses in Karachi alone.

He added that the government is according high priority to the development of housing sector.

Development of housing sector would also give boost to 47 other industries linked with it.

The Prime Minister's Housing project launched last year to provide houses to low income group would boost socio-economic activities in the country", he added He said that under the Prime Minister's Housing for All Programme, one million housing units would be constructed throughout the country including AJK and Northern Areas for the needy, poor, government servants and general public on affordable cost.

Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) has registered more than 18,000 employees under the government's scheme to provide houses to government servants.

The Minister said that Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) has been activated and given the task to accomplish the housing projects.