Imran directs steps to prevent chaotic urban growth

PM says govt fulfilling promises of low-cost housing for poor

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday called for clearly demarcating the limits of the cities across the country in order to prevent a chaotic and haphazard growth of the urban areas and to protect the green belts.

Chairing meetings of the committee on housing and construction and Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA), Central Business District (CBD) and Nullah Lai Expressway projects, Imran stressed the need for early completion of the government’s flagship urban development projects.

During the meeting of the National Coordinating Committee on Housing, Construction and Development, Imran directed for constructing commercial buildings in public-private partnership in the expensive sectors of Islamabad.

He said that the government was fulfilling its promise of building low-cost housing for the poor and middle class. In this regard, he added, loans worth Rs38 billion had been disbursed so far for the construction of houses.

Read: PM asked to showcase economic progress

“For the first time in the history of the country, 12,400 low cost and standard flats are being provided to the slum dwellers of Islamabad,” Imran said. He directed that the boundaries of all the cities should be demarcated in order to protect green belts.

The meeting was informed that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the New Pakistan Housing Authority would provide subsidy on these flats that would bring the monthly instalments to a minimum. All civic amenities would be provided in these flats, the meeting was informed.

Imran said that an international standard cricket stadium would be constructed in Islamabad. He stressed that commercial buildings should be constructed in public-private partnership in expensive sectors of Islamabad.

Separately, chairing a review meeting on RUDA and CBD, Imran called for early completion of the government’s flagship urban development projects, including RUDA and CBD in Lahore and the Nullah Lai Expressway in Rawalpindi.

On Thursday, Premier Imran congratulated the Ministry of Communication and the National Highway Authority (NHA) for saving public money through transparency and digitisation and achieving 138% reduction in the cost of constructing four-lane highway when compared with PML-N government.

Read More: PM Imran admits failure in accountability

In a Twitter post, PM Imran also mentioned 125% increase in revenues as well as freeing the land worth Rs5.18 billion from encroachments as the government’s achievements. “All this [was achieved] despite global price hikes and inflation,” he remarked.

In his tweet, the prime minister shared data, which showed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government spent Rs172 million as against Rs411 million of the PML-N government (2013-18) on the construction of four-lane highway, depicting 138% reduction in cost.

The prime minister also shared data showing that the PTI during the first three and a half years generated Rs184.14 billion in revenues [in the communication sector] as against Rs81.78 billion by the PML-N government in the same period, depicting a 125% increase.

Character building of youth

Meanwhile, talking to renowned religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel, who called on the prime minister on Thursday, Imran reiterated that Pakistanis as a nation could only achieve progress by following the teachings of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

Matters relating to the proposed role of the Rehmatullil Aalameen Authority in the character building of the youth in light of the basic values of the State of Madina, and the illustrious teachings of Holy Prophet (PBUH) were discussed in the meeting.