ISLAMABAD, Jan 13 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed completion of ongoing federal government’s low-cost housing projects expeditiously, besides asking for collaboration with the private sector to boost investment in the housing projects.
The prime minister also instructed ensuring a third-party validation of construction in the federal government housing projects.
The prime minister chaired a review meeting of the ongoing projects in the Ministry of Housing. Federal Ministers Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar and other senior officials attended the meeting, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
The ministry of housing informed the prime minister about the progress on the ongoing reforms and policy measures in its various departments.
It was informed that consultations with all the stakeholders for amendments in the National Housing Policy 2001 had been completed and the process for its final approval would be completed by March 2025 as per the prime minister’s instruction.
The meeting was further apprised that the system for allocating houses to the government employees and grant of rents had been digitized, which would help eliminate corruption and bring transparency in the system.
The prime minister was also apprised of the ongoing and future projects under the Pakistan Housing Authority.
The meeting was told that work was progressing rapidly on 630 low-cost residential units in Kuchlak, Quetta and 4,112 residential units in Islamabad.
The prime minister directed for prompt completion of these projects and third-party validation.
It was further informed that work on 5,728 low-cost residential units in Peshawar would begin soon while work on 5,600 residential units in Rawalpindi and Islamabad would kickstart in the near future.
The prime minister directed seeking of services from the reputable construction companies for all these residential projects.
He said renowned international construction companies should be selected for projects for government employees and the public.
The prime minister said selection process of the construction companies should be conducted through a transparent process and on merit, adding these projects should be completed within the stipulated time frame.
The prime minister was given a detailed briefing on the affairs of the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority.
The meeting was briefed on the digitization and reforms of the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority, online payments, digital systems for complaint resolution, one-window operations, real-time monitoring, geo-tagging, and other reforms which were being implemented to enhance transparency and efficiency in the system.
The meeting was also informed about different projects under the authority for constructing international standard facilities in Islamabad, including a five-star hotel, hospital, IT park, apartment complexes, and international standard schools.
The prime minister directed the submission of a comprehensive plan detailing construction costs and the required time for these projects.
The meeting was informed about the dissolution of PWD and other non-functional organizations.
The prime minister expressed satisfaction with reduction in corruption due to the dissolution of PWD and other non-functional organizations in the ministry and also acknowledged the digitization of the current official housing allocation system.
The prime minister said that they would take every possible step to provide affordable housing to every citizen of Pakistan, adding reforms were being taken to reduce corruption in the low-cost housing projects for citizens.
Due to government efforts, he observed that Pakistan’s image on the global landscape had been restored and the events like international cricket matches, other sports, and global conferences were being hosted by the country.
The prime minister directed that international standard hotels, hospitals, and other facilities should be established to facilitate the foreign guests and sought a comprehensive plan from the ministry in this regard.
He also directed the formulation of a national housing policy by March for approval, adding public housing projects under the ministry should be completed expeditiously to provide affordable housing for the working class.
The prime minister further directed the constitution of a committee for dissolving non-functional organizations and reforms in the ministry of housing and other ministries.
The committee would assist not only the ministry of housing but also other ministries about carrying out necessary reforms.