PM to perform groundbreaking of housing projects in Islamabad, Quetta

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will perform the groundbreaking of two major housing projects under the "Naya Pakistan Housing Programme (NPHP)" in Islamabad and Quetta this month.

The decision was taken during a meeting to review progress on the housing projects being constructed under the programme, said a press statement issued by the PM Office Thursday.

The prime minister was informed that under the programme, 110,000 housing units would be constructed in two cities of Balochistan including Quetta and Gwadar, while 19,000 apartments would be built in 04 different projects located at various places of the federal capital in the first phase.

Secretary Housing Imran Zeb Khan informed the prime minister that draft legislations for establishment of Naya Pakistan Housing Authority, foreclosure laws and housing-specific loans recovery procedures have been forwarded to the Cabinet Committee for Legislative Cases for its consideration.

It was said that all codal formalities for establishment of Naya Pakistan Housing Company would be completed during this week.

Giving details of various housing projects being undertaken in the first phase of NPHP, the secretary housing informed the PM Khan that the Housing Ministry would be signing an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the Government of Balochistan for various housing projects in Quetta (5000 apartments in Wahdat Colony), Gwadar (55,000 apartments), Fisher Colony (54,000 apartments) and other places of the province.

In Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), 3,000 units would be constructed whereas 19,000 units would be built in Islamabad in the first phase.

The prime minister was briefed that an important project involving construction of 30,000 apartments on CDA land near Chaklala was also being undertaken, besides another project on the prime land of G13 and G14 sectors with a potential of 6000 apartments was also being vigorously pursued.

Khan expressed satisfaction over the steady progress being made with regard to the NPHP and the huge interest being shown by international investors.

He said that Naya Pakistan Housing Programme, besides bridging demand and supply gap in the housing sector, would also act as a stimulus for the overall growth of economy.

Recounting various steps being taken by the government to facilitate foreign investors in construction business, including grant of permission for erecting high-rise buildings, the premier observed that focus on technology transfer, employing the services of local industries and utilising local work force would not only create huge job opportunities but would also boost all sectors associated with the construction industry.