Sindh government to build one million low-cost houses for poor

The Sindh government has decided, in principle, to construct about one million low-cost houses for homeless or poor people in 19 districts of the province. The government has also earmarked Rs 2 billion for the project, to be completed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
For execution and monitoring of the plan, the government has established People's Housing Cell (PHC), and Special Assistant to Sindh Chief Minister, Ziaul Islam, has been appointed its chairman, sources in Sindh government told Business Recorder on Tuesday.
Earlier, sources said, PHC office was set up in the Tughlaq House, which was later shifted to another location, behind PIDC building. When approached, PHC chairman Ziaul Islam said: "Yes, the government would construct low-cost houses for poor people in the province and in this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed with the UNDP next week, as the country director is out of Pakistan."
Initially, he said, some 500 houses would be constructed in the coastal belt for fishermen. Out of them 200 houses would be established in Thatta, 200 in Badin and 100 in Ibrahim Hyderi, Rehri and Sandspit Hawkes Bay. He said that the PPP government was committed to fulfil its slogans of Roti, Kapra aur Makan and, establishment of these houses was its part.
He said each of these low-cost houses would be constructed on 1000 square foot area with estimated cost of Rs 3,45,000. It would have two rooms, kitchen, courtyard, washroom and an open area. The construction of these 500 houses would be completed in six to eight months and structure approved by the UNDP would be adopted, he added.
He said that the project would further be expanded. The DCOs (District Co-ordination Officers) have identified 61 sites in various parts of the province on an area of 6,818 acres. In Karachi, two sites have been identified, measuring 200 acres--in Bin Qasim Town and Northern Bypass, he said. He said that PHC was making all-out efforts to utilise public-partnership in the metropolis.

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Cities            No of      Land

                   sites in acres

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Karachi                2      400

Hyderabad              3     3219

Matiari                1       25

Nawabshah             13      115

Naushehro Feroz        2       35

Sukkur                 3      311

Shikarpur              2      136

Ghotki                 2       42

Khairpur               5      356

Jacobabad              1       32

Kashmore               1       38

Larkana                8      271

Mirpurkhas             2       72

Tando Muhammad

 Khan                  1       23

Tharparkar             3      600

Umerkot                2      317

Thatta                 5      300

Badin                  2       26

Jamshoro               3      500

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Total                 61     6818

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