Works on PHA housing schemes in full swing.

ISLAMABAD, March 30, 2012 (Balochistan Times): The construction work on several schemes launched by the Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) under the Prime Ministers Housing Programme in various parts of the country is in full swing. The schemes have been launched with the objective to provide housing facilities to the federal government employees and the general public at affordable cost. The Pakistan Peoples Party led government, soon after taking over the charge, announced to construct one million houses. In this regard, it initiated work on various long and short-term housing projects in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore and Quetta. The allotment of plots and constructed houses are being made on no profit and no loss basis. About two percent quota each has been allocated for journalists and non-journalists in these schemes. The Federal Government Employees Housing Foundation (FGEHF) has registered over 20,000 employees under the governments scheme to provide them houses. The PHA launched seven housing schemes comprising 1,000 residential units across the country and two other projects of 2,000 housing units as joint ventures. Managing Director PHA, Rasul Bux Phulpoto told that PHA is rigorously working to translate the vision of Prime Minister to provide houses to government servants on their retirement. He said that the authority launched D & E type apartments for low paid FG Employees (BPS 1-16) at G-10/2 & G-11/3 sectors of the capital comprising 400 and 368 D-type houses respectively. He said that PHA is constructing 37,000 apartments for low paid Federal Government Employees on ownership basis. MD PHA said in January 2009, PHA launched a housing scheme in Wafaqi Colony Lahore comprising 60 units, following which it launched two additional schemes in the same colony in September 2010 and January 2011 respectively, comprising 60 D and E-type flats. Around 90 per cent, 11 per cent and 13 per cent work has been completed on the three housing schemes respectively. He added that the housing schemes launched by PHA in joint ventures with private construction companies include the construction of 718 residential units in Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi in May 2010 in collaboration with Maymar Construction Company, 25 per cent of which has been completed so far. Its latest joint-venture, with Al-Khalil Construction Company, is a housing scheme comprising 1,100 residential units in Turbat, Baluchistan; for which 22 percent work has been completed so far.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)