Banks willing to finance I-15 housing units

Banks and several other financial institutions have expressed their desire to finance construction of housing apartments in I-15, sources told Business Recorder here on Monday. Representatives of various scheduled banks including Muslim Commercial Bank, Habib Bank Limited, National Bank of Pakistan, Picic Commercial Bank, Saudi Investment Bank, United Bank Limited, Allied Bank Limited, besides financial institutions have held a detailed meeting with CDA chairman Kamran Lashari at the CDA's headquarters.
They have also given proposals to the CDA chairman regarding financing of about 80,000 housing units to be built in Sector I-15, for which Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is likely to approve the plan next month, sources added.
Matters relating to loaning, mark-up, loan instalments and cost of units to be payable by allottees also came under discussion.
However, the CDA has sought detailed proposals from all interested banks within a month for which the authority's planning wing will advertise Expression of Interests in the national press.
The CDA will play the role of guarantor in I-15 housing project, the official pointed out.
The CDA official said total cost of a three-bedroom apartment would not be more than Rs 1.3 million to be allotted to low-income groups.
The official informed that banks and financial institutions wanted to introduce a financing scheme like G-11/4 Sector, which was unveiled by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on April 11.
Around 1,000 flats of C, D and E category will be built at a cost of Rs1,800,000, Rs14,000,000 and Rs1,200,000, respectively.
As per the government plan, allottees will contribute over 40 percent of the total cost in easy instalments, while the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) will pay the remaining 60 percent cost to be made available through the housing foundation, ministry of housing and works.
However, it was learnt that nearly 8000 apartments will be constructed in I-15, besides 5500 plots of different sizes for low-grade government employees would be allotted through balloting.
The layout plan for the new sector would be presented to the federal cabinet.
The I-15 housing sector is being introduced near Islamabad Haj Complex to overcome housing problems being faced by low-paid salaried class, particularly the government employees. Over 60 percent quota has been reserved for government employees of grade 1-16 whereas armed forces will get 40 percent plots.