PM takes ownership of ‘unprecedented’ low-cost housing scheme

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday chaired a meeting to review progress on formulation of a road map for construction of five million house across the country.

During the meeting, it was decided that the prime minister will take ownership of the initiative in order to ensure smooth implementation and removing any administrative bottlenecks.

The prime minister said that provision of five million housing, equipped all basic facilities, and the regularisation of katchi abadis is a foremost priority of the government being the part of party’s manifesto.

He said that construction of affordable housing initiative would not only provide shelter to the homeless but would generate huge economic activity by providing millions of jobs and boost all linked industries of the housing sector.

PM Imran

said that besides the availability of vast state lands across the country, utilisation of prime lands of state guest houses and other government-owned accommodations and properties in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone could generate billions of rupees for the scheme.

He directed the committee to finalise its recommendations regarding formulation of a comprehensive plan of action with delineated timelines within two weeks for early roll out the housing program.

Earlier, Secretary Housing briefed the prime minister about the current situation regarding the annual demand and shortfall in the housing sector.

He also identified various options regarding ensuring availability of land bank, raising for the required finances through different modes and undertaking administrative and legal measures required to encourage private sector and the foreign investors towards the initiative.