Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Rehmat Ullah Kakar said here on Thursday that it is the prime responsibility of the government to take appropriate actions to promote provision of safe, sustainable and adequate housing facilities for its citizens. However, there is a huge housing backlog of around 7 million units in the country and majority of our population is living in unsafe settlements.
These views were expressed by him while speaking at an international conference arranged by Ministry of Housing and Works, National Housing Authority (NHA). Topic of the conference, which also included an exhibition and groundbreaking ceremony of an affordable housing project in Lahore, was 'safe and sustainable housing'.
The minister said Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) would be able to construct nearly 15,000 housing units by middle of 2013 in various parts of the country including Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. He said the conference was important to build confidence of local and foreign investors.
Project In-charge Afridi said that in its endeavour to complete Prime Minister's housing scheme, PHA in-spite of limited resources was carrying out construction of 500 flats in joint venture with private sector at Mauza Rawat (Islamabad). He said construction of 8700 flats at Islamabad and 1000 flats in Karachi would also be completed this year.
He also threw light on another new project of Prime Minister Housing scheme at Wafaqi Colony comprising 120 B, D and E type apartment, which would be completed in two and a half years. Representatives of public and private sector organisations, including chief executives of foreign construction companies, attended the conference.