The Prime Minister has directed the federal government to complete the ongoing low-cost housing projects soon.

 The government will take all possible steps to provide low-cost housing to every citizen, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif

Monday, January 13, 2025

Islamabad (Point News Today / Pakistan Point News - 13th January, 2025) Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed to complete the ongoing low-cost housing projects of the federal government as soon as possible, to increase investment in partnership with the private sector and to ensure third-party validation of the construction of housing projects and to complete the construction projects within a specified period, saying that the government will take all possible steps to provide low-cost housing to every citizen of Pakistan.

According to a statement issued by the Media Wing of the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday, a review meeting on the ongoing projects of the Ministry of Housing was held here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the meeting, the Prime Minister directed that internationally renowned construction companies should be selected for the projects to be constructed for government employees and the public, and that the companies should be selected for the construction projects in a transparent manner and on merit.

Construction projects should be completed within a specified period. During the meeting, the Prime Minister was informed about the steps taken regarding the dissolution of PWD and other inactive institutions. Expressing satisfaction over the reduction in corruption due to the dissolution of PWD and other dysfunctional institutions, the Prime Minister said that the digitization of the current system of allotment of government houses to employees is welcome, every possible step will be taken to provide low-cost housing to every citizen of Pakistan, and reforms are underway to reduce corruption in the projects for providing low-cost housing to citizens.

He said that with the efforts of the government, Pakistan’s image on the global scene has been restored, international cricket, other sports and international conferences are being organized in the country, international standard hotels, hospitals and other facilities will be established in the country for guests from abroad. The Prime Minister sought a comprehensive plan from the Ministry of Housing for international standard facilities.

The Prime Minister directed that the formulation of the National Housing Policy be completed and approved by March. The Prime Minister said that the public housing projects underway under the ministry should be completed soon so that the working class can get low-cost housing soon. The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Housing and other ministries to establish a committee for the dissolution of inactive institutions and other reforms and to provide necessary support to this committee not only to the Ministry of Housing but also to other ministries in the reforms.

In the meeting, the Ministry of Housing briefed the Prime Minister on the progress and policy initiatives on the ongoing reforms in various institutions of the ministry. The meeting was informed that consultation with all stakeholders has been completed for the amendments to the National Housing Policy 2001 and in light of the Prime Minister’s instructions, its final approval process will be completed by March 2025. The meeting was informed that the system of allotment of houses to government employees and collection of rents has been digitized, which will make it possible to eliminate corruption and bring transparency in the system.

The Prime Minister was also briefed about the ongoing and future projects under the Pakistan Housing Authority. The meeting was informed that currently work is progressing rapidly on 630 low-cost housing units in Kuchlak Quetta while 4112 housing units in Islamabad. The Prime Minister directed for early completion of these projects and third party validation. The meeting was further informed that work on 5728 low-cost housing units in Peshawar would be started soon while in the near future 5600 housing units in Rawalpindi and Islamabad would be started.

The Prime Minister directed to hire the services of reputable construction companies in all housing projects. The Prime Minister was given a detailed briefing on the affairs of the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority. The meeting was also briefed on the digitization and reforms of the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority. The meeting was informed that steps are being taken to bring transparency and speed in the system through online payment, digital system for redressal of grievances, one-window operation, real-time monitoring, geo-tagging and other reforms.

The meeting was also informed about the plans of the authority to construct international standard facilities in Islamabad including five-star hotels, hospitals, IT parks, apartment complexes and international standard schools. The Prime Minister directed to present a comprehensive action plan in this regard soon along with the construction cost and required time. The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and relevant senior officials.