Construction of 7,000 units completed under PM low cost housing scheme
The Ministry of Housing and Works has launched Prime Minister Low Cost Housing Scheme under which the deserving families were getting financial assistance up to Rs 500, 000 through Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance (AIM).
An official documents pertaining to the three year government performance stated that the funds amounting to Rs 7 billion have been released to Akhuwat till June 4, 2021 by the government.
The construction of 7000 houses units was completed and remaining was under construction. It said that poor and deserving families would get financial assistance as per Shariah compliant product.
The federal cabinet had also approved the summary of ministry regarding Urban Regeneration of Pakistan Quarters and Jamshaid quarters Karachi on June 15, 2021. Under this project, this Ministry, in collaboration with Naya Pakistan Housing Authority, will transform katchi abadis into developed areas through high rise vertical developments consisting of approximately 6000 apartments and commercial areas.
The documents further said that Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) had planned/allotted 32,304 units (20,852 plots & 11,352 apartments, 100 houses) to its members in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Lahore, AJK, Peshawar and Karachi.
In the initiatives, the FGEHA restarted stalled schemes of 11,352 plots at Green Enclave-I Bara Kahu, Sky Garden (Green Enclave-II) and F-14/F-15 Islamabad.
The authority initiated new apartment’s schemes consisting of 10,102 units at Kashmir Avenue, G-13, Skyline, Apartments, Islamabad, Chaklala Heights, Rawalpindi and Lifestyle Residency, Lahore. Similarly, it initiated housing schemes of 850 units with governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The documents further stated that presently FGEHA was developing 9,500 plots at sectors F-12 and G-12 Islamabad and 500 units at Airport Residencia, Karachi
Similarly, Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHAF) had planned/initiated/allotted 17,506 units / flats/shops project. Out of 1350 housing units/flats at Kuchlak Road Project, Quetta, completed booking of 714 housing units while booking of 636 apartments is in progress.
Around 1250 housing units booked in Peshawar Sarozai Project consisting of total 10,000 housing units. The authority allotted 588 grey structures at PHA Residency Project Kurri Road and conducted auction for sale of 88 shops in Block A & B.
It also completed booking of 2780 apartments in I-12/1 and 1484 apartments in I-16/3. The PHAF further launched membership drive for GB housing project comprising 1216 apartments at Minawar.
The documents said that possession of Wafaqi Colony project and construction work at G-10/2 project completed and almost 98% allotted have taken possession.
Likewise, the Pak. PWD had completed and carrying out projects under PSDP and SAP worth Rs 47963.552 million during last three year. It had completed 88 projects and 127 were in progress under PSDP. Similarly, 1754 projects were completed and 1488 were in progress under Sustainable Achievement Program (SAP).
The National Construction Ltd (NCL) had completed 12 projects of Rs 2,999.961 million and had awarded new projects worth Rs 627.176 million.
The documents said that the Estate Office Management had got vacated 2500 government accommodations from illegal occupants during three years. The office recovered Rs 513 million on account of 5% rent from the allot tees.
The system of cell alerts, e-mail as well as Whats-app is being developed to promote transparency in allotment procedure.
It further said that Housing Ministry has launched a separate GWL for provision of government accommodation on priority basis to the employees living with disabilities.
The Ministry signed a tripartite collaboration agreement / MoU with UNOPS and SHS on July 22, 2019. Under this scheme government of Balochistan transferred and mutated land measuring 200 acres at Gwadar for construction of affordable housing scheme with special focus of fisherman community.
This international collaboration effort was halted due to pandemic of COVID-19. Lately, the Pakistan through its High Commission in Denmark has taken measures to revive this scheme.
The documents stated that the Federal Cabinet also approved signing of MoU between this Ministry and China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd, (CSCEC) on June 19, 2019 regarding construction of five million housing units for low-income groups in Pakistan.
The CSCEC had informed vide their email dated June 15, 2021 that they are ready to sign MoU with this Ministry. Efforts are underway to sign the MoU as soon as possible, it concluded.