LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has once again shown his determination to build 35000 subsidized apartments in Lahore. While talking to Minister of State Shabbir Ali Qureshi, he said that he would not leave any stone unturned to fulfill his promise of providing the roof to the low-income groups. The massive housing to provide shelter to as many as thirty-five thousand families will be carried out on an area of more than 8000 Kanal with a cost of Rs180 billion.
The project was announced in January this year by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. The CM had directed the official concerned to make initial proceedings of the project at the earliest but no significant advancement seems to have been made in this regard as yet. Lahore Development Authority (LDA) is the body undertaking this massive project under the Prime Minister’s Naya Pakistan Housing Program.
Speaking about the implementation of the program, earlier this year, with the Minister Housing in the chair, The Vice Chairman of the LDA, Mr. SM Imran had highlighted the pros and corn of the scheme. He said “We will construct 35,000 residential apartments in a bid to support the Prime Minister’s Naya Pakistan Housing Project that aims to construct 5 million houses to overcome the growing housing needs of the poor people in Pakistan. These apartments would be constructed over 8,500 Kanal in Mauza Halloki, Mr. Imran had also told that the location of the scheme was ideal as it is close to Lahore Ring Road. He also told that the prices offered would be within the reach of the low-income group for which the banks would offer loans to the masses.
He had also identified the categories of the flats and told that the apartments would be constructed in five categories measuring 650 square feet to 2,200 Sq. feet within a period of 30 to 36 months. According to the LDA authorities in phase 1 of the project 4000 apartments would be completed at a cost of Rs 40 billion, then further advancement would be made. The govt would utilize some area of land from an existing society of LDA and the remaining will be acquired from the local landlords. The government also has a plan to launch similar projects in Nankana Sahib, Shaikhupura, and Kasur.
