10 million housing units needed in Pakistan: PM Imran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said Pakistan was in need of 10 million homes in order to provide shelter to people having no homes, ARY News reported.

Khan announced that a major housing project to build five million units, mainly for low-income group will be launched by next month to cope with the shortage of around 10 million houses in the country.

Addressing an international Housing Conference in Islamabad, Khan said the government was introducing the housing scheme with the help of the State Bank of Pakistan. “Once this project kicks off, it will go quite far,” he added.

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He said 40 industries were on board with the housing scheme project. “Be it education, health or any facility, it’s available for a tiny segment of an influential group. We will make sure to provide the downtrodden with all such facilities and basic provisions”.

Khan said Pakistan was among top countries in giving charities. The prime minister said government would try to focus on building high-rise buildings.

He underlined that land worth Rs 500 billion was retrieved in Islamabad alone. “We will take steps to retrieve the state land,” he added.

He vowed that land that was encroached with connivance of Capital Development Authority officials will be reclaimed by the government. “The government lands were encroached as if they were private properties,” he remarked.

Khan said housing scheme will also be expanded to rural and tribal areas to facilitate people in large numbers.

The government won’t be constructing houses, it will just assist the private sectors to the core, he stated.