PM Imran's housing project catches Canadian investors’ eye

Minister says govt will facilitate foreign investment in flagship project

LAHORE: Following China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), investors from Canada have expressed confidence in Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) flagship low-cost housing project, Naya Pakistan Housing Programme (NPHP).

A delegation of a Canadian construction firm, led by its chairman Suleyman Mufti Gil, called on Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed on Tuesday and gave him a briefing about the low-cost construction technologies and techniques being offered by the firm. Gil apprised the meeting of global construction experience of his firm and expressed interest in the construction of houses under the NPHP.

He maintained that the firm can introduce new trends of construction by using environment-friendly technologies.

Earlier, investors from China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) approached the PTI leadership to express their interest in the project.

Rasheed said the interest of foreign investors and construction companies in the NPHP showed the foreign investors’ confidence in Prime Minister Imran Khan’s policies. He underlined that the Punjab government would provide every possible facility to foreign investors for the flagship project of the PTI-led government.

The minister said feasible proposals of foreign construction companies would be welcomed concerning the construction of low-cost houses because the purpose of the NPHP was to provide quality housing facilities with less cost.

Last week, the Punjab government had kick-started allotment of houses under the NPHP through computerised balloting in Lodhran. Following the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Punjab government has also started the project in Multan. Punjab government has allocated state land at Madni Chowk for Naya Pakistan Housing Programme.

The other day, Rasheed inspected the allocated site of the said project at Multan and also received a detailed briefing from the Housing Department. He said that Punjab government was working on an emergent basis for the provision of shelter to the deserving persons. Triple storey flats for low-cost families will be constructed. He said that in this regard, initially modern type flats will be given on easy instalments at the cost of Rs30 lakh at Multan and 384 flats will be constructed at Madni Chowk on more than 23 kanals.

Rasheed said that masjid, boundary wall, park and modern health centre will also be set up in the housing scheme. Punjab government will launch civil work on the said project later this year, he added. Announcement of allottees will be made through transparent balloting. He further stated that the Naya Pakistan Housing project will also be launched at Muzaffargarh road where every citizen having low-income can apply for his own house. The said scheme has also been started at Lodhran for families having low-income, he stated.

The minister said that the construction of two lakh houses will be launched in seven big cities in one year. Punjab Government is also including the private sector in Naya Pakistan Housing project.

To encourage and ensure the private sector's participation in the NPHS, the government has already constituted a new Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA). Rasheed highlights that the new authority is being established in the province to ensure participation of the private sector in Prime Minister Imran Khan's NPHS project and speedy construction of low-cost housing units.

The Minister said that Punjab government, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan is undertaking effective measures to ensure the private sector’s participation in Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme. By-laws of LDA, Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) and other institutions are being reviewed to offer relief to builders and developers and encourage them to play their part in the project.

He underlined that construction of 2.5 million housing units under this scheme is not possible without the active participation of the private sector. Builders and developers would be provided all-out cooperation by the Punjab government to achieve this target. He reiterated his resolve that incentives would be provided to builders and developers in this regard. He maintained that process of initiation of housing projects under Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme would be made transparent in consultation with the private sector and quality of these housing units would also be ensured.

Earlier, the government has announced to roll out the NPHS in Lahore, Kasur, Sialkot, Jhelum, Bahawalpur, Layyah, Multan, Vehari, Rahim Yar Khan and Gujranwala by January. However, considering the tremendous public interest and a large number of applications, the government has decided to hold the simultaneous launch of the project in all-district.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had unveiled the NPHS project in October.

In the first phase, the government has decided to start the NPHS in seven districts, including Sukkur, Quetta, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Swat, Islamabad and Faisalabad, to construct a total five million houses for the low-income strata of the society during next five years.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2019.