LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that first housing scheme “Aashiyana” is a revolutionary project of Punjab government for low-income people, and under the leadership of PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, it is an important step towards transforming the country in accordance to the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal.
“Like other projects of the Punjab government, Aashiyana Housing Scheme will be completed in a most transparent manner and all houses will be allotted through balloting. Five per cent quota has been reserved for widows, orphans, disabled and martyrs in this scheme and Punjab government will make down payment for the houses of martyrs and widows,” he added, while addressing a foundation stone laying ceremony of the first Aashiyana Housing Scheme at Atari Saroba, Ferozepur Road on Saturday. Chairman Punjab Land Development Company MPA Sheikh Alauddin, MNAs and MPAs, senior government officials and a large number of people were present on this occasion.
Shahbaz Sharif also said it was the first coordinated and comprehensive housing scheme in the history of Pakistan, which was being set up for the poor on a very costly land. He assured that like Daanish Schools, which had been set up for the poorest of the poor students for providing quality education and their standard was not less than any prestigious institution of the country, the Aashiyana Housing Scheme would also be made a high quality housing scheme by providing most modern facilities in it so that the low-income people should also realise that not only elite, they also had equal right on most modern housing schemes.
He added that the Punjab government by launching this housing scheme with best facilities had given its practical proof. “3,000 houses of 2 and 3 Marla will be constructed in this scheme and every possible effort would be made to complete these houses within one year. Quota for widows, martyrs, disabled and orphans has been fixed, and it will make down-payment of Rs 2.25 lakh allotted through draw to them,” he mentioned, adding that the facility of loan at minimum interest rate from Bank of Punjab would be provided to the remaining 95 percent people obtaining houses through balloting. Shahbaz Sharif further said after Lahore, a network of such schemes would be laid throughout the province and there would be no quota of the Chief Mimister or his government in these schemes.
