'New house requisition facility for government employees soon'

Federal Minister for Housing and Works Syed Safwanullah has expressed the hope that a new house requisition facility for the Federal Government(FG) employees would be included in the upcoming fiscal budget.
Talking to APP here on Sunday the minister said that the initiative was vigorously pursued by his ministry to overcome the housing facility backlog in the federal capital.
"The proposal was first approved in principle by the cabinet way back in 1995 but the matter remained dormant, and has recently been favoured by the cabinet," he added.
He said it would be a giant step to tackle the ever-increasing demand of federal government employees who are facing residential problems.
Giving further details about the proposal the minister said it was suggested that the rental charges to the federal government employees should be paid separately from their salaries according to their grades and market rates.
Safwan said it would enable them to find a suitable residential place without running from pillar to post.
About other steps he informed that they were seriously considering resolving the sector G-6 flats issue.
"All the options to grant ownership rights to the inmates of 203 flats or otherwise are being taken into consideration and an immediate solution is expected," he added.
About a Land Bank proposal the minister said for the time being it is not feasible in Pakistan.
As most of the government property falls in the jurisdiction of provincial and district governments and if they can identify and allocate lands only in that case it would be viable, he added.
Replying to a question about "Third World Culture" ie; construction of cost effective housing projects for low income groups, the minister said this trend should be encouraged in the country.
Defining low cost housing projects he said, availability of lands at low rate for development, tax relief on part of government, long-term repayment facilities and introduction of mortgage societies are must for these projects, he added.
He stressed on the need to carry out research in this sector and said banks, financial institutes and other related institutes should come forward and establish certain research institutes.
The minister said there exist only 44 institutes related to building research and hinted that isolated efforts by the stakeholders cannot facilitate low income groups. With the new boom in the housing sector, about 72 allied industries would be developed, he added.