After 20 years, overseas Pakistanis get plots in capital

Over 20 years after the project was first started, some 1,100 overseas Pakistanis received possession of their plots in Zone-V of the federal capital.

The possession was handed over during a ceremony on Monday which was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development Syed Zulfi Bukhari.

Bukhari said that the government is working to not only live up to the expectations of overseas Pakistanis but also on resuming stalled projects.

Detailing issues with the housing scheme, Bukhari said that land for the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) scheme was purchased in 1994. However, the contract to develop it was not awarded until 2008 when the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) was tasked with the project.

Bukhari lamented that land was bought but not even a feasibility had been prepared for the project and hard-earned money of overseas Pakistanis remained stuck for nearly 20 years.

He said that a large part of this housing scheme had been in the possession of land grabbers for years and due to the political influence of the land mafia, but effective action was taken to recover the property.

“When people ask us what we have been doing for the past two years (in government),” Bukhari posed, adding, “we have been cleaning up the mess left by past governments for decades”.

He added that thanks to the efforts of the government this scheme was brought to a point where plots are being handed over while another two projects are being introduced in Lahore for overseas Pakistanis.

For the scheme in Zone-V, he said that some 200 villas will be built, of which they are inaugurating 50 villas today (Monday). Further, the special assistant said, 120 apartments are also being built in the OPF Country Homes and Apartments project located within the OPF Housing Scheme in Zone-V.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2020.