Lahore: The Punjab government recently approved the development of low-cost housing projects in 10 cities — with development work to be carried out as a joint venture with private investors, developers and builders, according to a news story shared in local dailies today. The initiative comes as part of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Naya Pakistan Housing Programme (NPHP).
As per the details shared by Punjab Minister for Housing and Urban Development Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed, several builders, developers and investors had approached the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) with regards to the development of low cost housing projects in the province. Responding to these requests, the provincial government decided to initiate the process to collaborate with private entities in order to provide low-cost housing units and plots in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Lodhran, Sialkot, Hazru, Chistian, Chinot, Patoki and Kharian.
Minister Rasheed further revealed that PHATA was carrying out the related processes to scrutinise the applications submitted by the developers and investors interested in developing NPHP projects. The government is keen on approving these applications on a priority basis so as to initiate the development work on 169 low-cost housing projects across the province as soon as possible.
According to the details available, the government will provide 39,000 low-cost plots in Lahore and Faisalabad for the development of affordable housing projects, on an area measuring 20,531 acres. Sources also claim that these schemes will feature 175,000 residential plots — with 44,927 plots measuring 3 marlas in size and 38,662 plots measuring 5 marlas in size.
