Timely announcements: K-P govt approves mega housing projects

Says aim is to provide homes for low-income groups at affordable prices

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has approved three major housing projects in the province and authorities have been directed to execute them at the earliest.

According to a handout issued by the government on Wednesday, the approval was given during a meeting with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in the chair. The meeting reviewed progress made on New Hangu City and the model towns of Peshawar and Nowshera.

The CM directed the housing department to increase the number of plots in Hangu City from 500 to 2,000 by reducing the proposed size of each plot from one kanal to five marlas. The aim was to ensure there is housing aplenty for low-income groups at an affordable price.

He also directed the revenue department to transfer 1,420 acres of land proposed for Hangu City to the provincial housing department.

Khattak also approved a five-kilometre, three-lane access expressway from Tarujaba on GT Road to Model Town in Nowshera. He directed the width of the access road range from 280 to 320 feet.

According to the royalty-based plan of Peshawar Model Town, land owners were offered 13,000 kanals for acquisition.

Uniformity

In another meeting chaired by Khattak, standardised designs were approved for new buildings of schools and colleges. The government claims the exercise could potentially save millions which are being paid by the provincial government to designing consultants.

The meeting was told the designs, prepared and financially mapped out by the K-P Communication and Works Department, would also reduce recurring costs of buildings.

Speaking at the meeting, the CM directed authorities to equip all education institutions with solar power and avoid the use of wood for window frames.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2015.